High Speed Rail Seminar in California [January 14, 2011]

Friday, January 14, 2011

Main Seminar 1:30 pm - 5:00 pm, Exhibition 11:30 am - 6:30 pm
Reception following the Main Seminar

The Omni Los Angeles Hotel at California Plaza
251 South Olive St., LA, CA 90012


Seminar Overview
In January 2010, President Obama announced an allocation of $8 billion granted as federal funds to help turn the U.S. vision of high speed rail (HSR) into reality. The distributed funds, to which $2.4 billion were added in October, will be used for the development of HSR which has proven to be an effective, energy-efficient way to move large numbers of people quickly over long distances. The goal of this seminar in Los Angeles is to demonstrate how Japan’s 46 years of experience in HSR operation can contribute toward developing HSR network projects in California. In this half day seminar, leaders in the Japanese transportation field will introduce technology and operational experience about HSR. Topics also include a financial scheme for introducing HSR systems to the U.S. as well as economic benefits derived from HSR, such as job creation and regional development.

Presented by:
-Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Japan
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Japan
- Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Japan
- Institution for Transport Policy Studies (ITPS), Japan
- Japan International Transport Institute (JITI)
- Council for Global Promotion of Railway, Japan
- Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)
Supported by The Nippon Foundation

Seminar Program
Main Seminar
 Agenda

Opening Remarks
- Sumio Mabuchi, Minister, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
(Vice-Minister Masafumi Shukuri, MLIT, representing Minister Mabuchi)
 Bio
 Presentation

- Ichiro Fujisaki, Ambassador of Japan to the United States
 Bio
 Presentation

- Satoshi Seino, Acting Chairman, Council for Global Promotion of Railway and President/ CEO, JR-East
 Bio
- Kenichi Fukaya, Vice-Chairman, ITPS
 Bio

Keynote Remarks
- Norman Y. Mineta, Former Secretary of Transportation and Vice Chairman, Hill & Knowlton
 Bio
- Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Los Angeles
 Bio
- U.S. Congressman Jim Costa, California 20th District
 Bio
- U.S. Congresswoman Laura Richardson, California 37th District
 Bio
- State Assemblymember Fiona Ma, Speaker pro tempore, California 12th District
 Bio
- State Assemblymember Cathleen Galgiani, California 17th District
 Bio
- State Assemblymember Warren Furutani, California 55th District
 Bio
-Roelof van Ark, CEO, California High-Speed Rail Authority
 Bio
 Presentation

Presentations
[Regional Developments through HSR Projects]
-Yuki Tanaka, Director, International Affairs Office, JITI
 Bio
 Presentation

[Operator Proposal: Realization of the HSR Project and Maximization of its Economic Impact]
-Satoshi Seino, President and CEO, East Japan Railway Company (JR-East)
 Presentation

[Introduction of Safe and Efficient N700-I bullet System, and Countermeasures against Derailment during Earthquake]
- Tsutomu Morimura, Senior Executive Director, Central Japan Railway Company (JR-Central)
 Bio
 Presentation

[Efforts to Maximize the Effects of HSR]
- Toshihiko Aoyagi, Director General, Railway Operations HQ, Kyushu Railway Company (JR-Kyushu)
 Bio
 Presentation

[Railcar Manufacturer Proposals: High Speed Train Technology and Contributions to the US Society]
- Yoshinori Kanehana, Executive Officer/VP, Rolling Stock Company, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.
 Bio
 Presentation

Exhibition
Panel displays & DVD presentations on Japanese HSR

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