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On the Right Track Webinar Series
Discover the secrets behind over 50 years of global high-speed rail innovation in MTI’s "On the Right Track: The Transformative Potential of Rail" webinar series! Explore station planning, station design development best practices, and groundbreaking projects from France, Germany, and Spain, featuring actionable insights from expert speakers. Join us as we explore how international high-speed rail success can guide U.S. professionals to shape the future of transit in our communities.
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March 3, 2026  |
Beyond the Bullet Train: Lessons from Japan’s ShinkansenJapan’s Shinkansen is often described in superlatives: fast, precise, iconic. But what actually makes it work? This webinar peeled back the myth to explore the real decisions, principles, and design thinking behind Japan’s high-speed rail success—and what they mean for North American practitioners. Drawing on first-hand experience and professional practice in Japan, speakers examined the Shinkansen as an integrated system operating across multiple scales: train design and operations, station planning and passenger flow, and city-building and tourism strategy. Rather than a technical deep dive, the conversation served as a guided “show-and-tell” of observations, questions, and practical takeaways that oriented attendees to how and why the system functions so reliably. Attendees learned what makes the Japanese system so successful and how those lessons can be applied in other contexts. This webinar was co-sponsored by the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco, APTA High-Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail Committee, High Speed Rail Alliance, and US High Speed Rail Association. Featured Speakers:
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October 9, 2025  |
Designing California’s Rail Future: Lessons from Foster + PartnersMTI hosted the latest installment of our On the Right Track webinar series featuring Angus Campbell of the globally acclaimed architecture practice Foster + Partners. Campbell discussed his work on rail stations both internationally and domestically in the US, particularly in California. This included San Jose Diridon station and several stations along the Central Valley segment of California High-Speed Rail. Campbell’s work spans a wide range of projects, many involving adaptive reuse and mixed-use districts. The conversation explored what California can learn from international examples Foster + Partners has worked on and examined lessons for delivering projects more efficiently while also maximizing their benefits for cities and regions. This not-to-be-missed conversation took place on Thursday, October 9th. This webinar series was co-sponsored by APTA High-Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail Committee and the US High Speed Rail Association. Featured Speaker:
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September 4, 2025  |
From Paris to Madrid: What Great Stations Teach UsMTI hosted an inside look at lessons learned from a recent San José State University study trip to Spain and France—home to some of the most celebrated high-speed rail systems and stations in the world. Through first-hand student experiences and expert perspectives, the event explored how great stations seamlessly connect intercity rail services with safe spaces for walking and biking and anchor vibrant urban neighborhoods that power regional economies. The session examined what makes these stations thrive: the governance structures that keep them running smoothly, innovative strategies to futureproof them against tomorrow’s challenges, and the art of building public trust through strategic engagement. Attendees gained valuable insights and actionable inspiration to help transform mobility in their own communities. This webinar series was co-sponsored by APTA High-Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail Committee, CRISI: Promoting Railroading Careers and Developing the Current Rail Industry Workforce, the High Speed Rail Alliance, and the US High Speed Rail Association. Featured Speakers:
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March 5, 2025  |
Berlin, Beijing, Bakersfield: Station Design Insights for U.S. RailThis installment of the webinar series On the Right Track: The Transformative Potential of Rail featured expert insights from Heidi Sokolowsky (Urban Field Studio), Kristopher Takács (AECOM), and Eric Eidlin (City of San José). Bringing decades of experience in station planning across the U.S. and internationally, the panelists summarized key takeaways from the previous three webinars and reflected on how global best practices in world-class station design and project delivery can shape the future of multimodal transit in California, the United States, and beyond. The discussion also explored how recent federal policy shifts could influence the trajectory of high-speed rail projects in the U.S., offering participants a timely and forward-looking conversation on the future of rail. This webinar series was co-sponsored by APTA High-Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail Committee, the California High-Speed Rail Authority, the High Speed Rail Alliance, and the US High Speed Rail Association. Featured Speakers:
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February 12, 2025  |
The German Case: Rail Station to Connect the WorldIn the latest installment of the On the Right Track series, Tobias Keyl of the internationally acclaimed architecture firm Gerkan, Marg & Partners (gmp) explored how world-class multimodal transportation hubs enable seamless global mobility while also serving as destinations in their own right. Renowned for designing rail stations, airports, and sports complexes across Europe and Asia, gmp has redefined large-scale infrastructure. Mr. Keyl highlighted Berlin Main Station as a powerful example of how national infrastructure investments helped unify a long-divided country. He also discussed gmp’s work in China and shared advancements that can inspire the future of intermodal travel in the United States. This webinar series was co-sponsored by APTA High-Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail Committee, the California High-Speed Rail Authority, the High Speed Rail Alliance, and the US High Speed Rail Association. Featured Speaker:
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January 15, 2025  |
The Spanish Case: Transformacion RápidaIn the second installment of the On the Right Track: The Transformative Potential of Rail series, international rail expert Eduardo Romo examined how high-speed rail has transformed Spanish society and its economy. Although Spain began developing high-speed rail later than some countries, it now boasts the most track mileage in Europe and the second most in the world. Romo discussed the key factors behind Spain’s rapid adoption, as well as the opportunities and challenges high-speed rail presents to cities of all sizes. The session also offered valuable insights into what Spanish high-speed rail can teach professionals in the United States. This webinar series was co-sponsored by APTA High-Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail Committee, the California High-Speed Rail Authority, the High Speed Rail Alliance, and the US High Speed Rail Association. Featured Speaker:
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December 11, 2024  |
The French Case: Stations as City BoostersIn the first webinar of the series, Fabrice Morenon, PhD, Managing Director of the international branch of French Railways, explored how French rail stations have served as catalysts for urban and regional growth. Drawing on notable examples from major cities such as Lyon and Bordeaux, as well as smaller cities like Besançon, Dr. Morenon highlighted how iterative design processes and strategic public-private partnerships have transformed stations into powerful economic and mobility hubs. The session demonstrated how French development principles can inspire high-speed rail success in the United States. This webinar series was co-sponsored by APTA High-Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail Committee, the California High-Speed Rail Authority, the High Speed Rail Alliance, and the US High Speed Rail Association. Featured Speaker:
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Contact Us
San José State University One Washington Square, San Jose, CA 95192 Phone: 408-924-7560 Email: mineta-institute@sjsu.edu
