Ian Choudri, CEO of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, has been appointed Vice Chair of the International Union of Railways (UIC) North American Regional Assembly (NARA) and named as a representative on the UIC Executive Board for a two-year term.
He will serve alongside NARA Chair Mario Peloquin, CEO of VIA Rail Canada, representing North America at the UIC Executive Board and General Assembly.
This role provides an opportunity to showcase California’s high-speed rail project internationally and support collaboration with UIC and NARA to advance rail development in North America.
The UIC is a global association that promotes rail transportation and fosters coordination across six world regions. NARA includes railroad operators, regulators, and government bodies from the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Ian Choudri, Authority CEO said:I thank the UIC and NARA for this opportunity to represent California’s high-speed rail project on the international stage and help usher in a new era of transportation here in North America. California is leading the way by delivering the first true high-speed rail project in North America, and I look forward to working with the UIC and NARA to continue this progress.
Construction on California’s high-speed rail continues, with 171 miles currently under design or construction between Merced and Bakersfield. Nearly 70 miles of guideway and almost 60 structures are complete, with an additional 29 structures in progress across Madera, Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties.
Statewide, 463 miles of the 494-mile San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim route are fully environmentally cleared and construction-ready. The project has created more than 16,100 jobs, primarily in the Central Valley, with up to 1,700 workers on site daily.
