As the 8th World Congress on High-Speed Rail came to a close on Friday, July 13, in Philadelphia, UIC Director-General Jean-Pierre Loubinoux gave emotional remarks. His words about the extraordinary friendships made, the intensive discussions held, and the challenges shared over the four-day congress were echoed time and again as the attendees returned home.

Photo by Todd Parola Student competition winners from the United States, China, Germany, Portugal, and Finland were recognized for their essays and drawings on high-speed rail. They participated in every session in Philadelphia and attended Washington Day in the nation’s capital. Second from left is APTA Program Manager Cheryl Pyatt.

Photo by Todd Parola A packed rail station was the venue for the closing night UIC dinner.

Photo by Todd Parola Announcing that “all good things must come to an end,” UIC Director-General Jean-Pierre Loubinoux, far right, closed the UIC 8th World Congress on High-Speed Rail with the announcement that the next World Congress would be held in Japan in 2014. He noted the choice of Japan as only fitting since high-speed rail began there 50 years ago. From left are APTA President & CEO Michael Melaniphy; UIC Director of High-Speed Rail Ignacio Barron de Angoiti; Naoto Yanase, an employee with East Japan Railway Company; and Satoshi Seino, chairman, East Japan Railway Company.

Photo by Todd Parola Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy Polly Trottenberg told attendees at the closing session that the United States is “still struggling” to determine how to fund all its transportation needs.  Referring to MAP-21, she said that the more than two years of stable funding for highways and public transit should be considered a success, although “more work will be needed on rail.”

Photo by Kathy Golden A roundtable session moderated by Michael Melaniphy, president & CEO, APTA, on high-speed rail’s role in the future transport market included experts Karen Hedlund, deputy administrator, Federal Railroad Administration; Barbara Dalibard, CEO, SNCF Voyages; Adrian Corry, senior consultant public transportation, BMW Design Works; Marilyn Jordan Taylor, dean, School of Design, University of Pennsylvania; Neil Peterson, executive advisor, CH2M Hill; Emanuele Carando, marketing vice president, Trenitalia/FS Italian National Railways; Stephen Van Beek, executive director, policy and strategy, Leigh Fisher Management Consultants; Victorino Perez Fernandez, RENFE Operadora; and Li Yuan, student, Tsinghua University, Beijing.