HSR Asia 2026 is the premier platform uniting government leaders, policy makers, rail authorities, financiers, engineers and technology innovators in Vietnam from 8-10th June 2026 to accelerate the next generation of high-speed rail across the region. Under the theme “Advancing High-Speed Rail Across Asia Pacific - Connectivity, Corridors & Delivery, the 2 day conference will explore how transformative high speed rail projects are reshaping regional mobility, fuelling sustainable economic growth and advancing technological frontiers.
Taking place in in Hanoi for the first time, HSR Asia 26 is anchored by Vietnam’s transformative North–South HSR programme – the conference will explore cross-border ASEAN corridors, regional corridor strategy, project delivery models, financing frameworks and bankability, digital rail innovation, delivery and engineering, transit-oriented development and sustainable infrastructure. HSR Asia 26 serves as the region’s strategic platform for shaping bankable, connected and future-ready rail networks across Asia Pacific and offers a unique platform to showcase innovations, build partnerships and influence the future of high speed rail in Asia Pacific.
Participants will gain insights into various funding models, the role of private investment, and real-world case studies showcasing successful financing strategies in high-speed rail projects.
The regional dialogue on Asia Pacific rail corridors
The delivery playbook for emerging HSR nations
The financing & bankability forum
A marketplace for engineering, rolling stock & digital systems
Vietnam’s gateway to ASEAN connectivity
Early Speakers Confirmed include: T C Chew, Managing Director, APAC, Arup Dr Sara Cheung, Executive Advisor, Asia Era One, Thailand Stefan Geisperger, COO, DB Engineering & Consulting
Tony Watson, Project Director, Typsa
Conference Programme
Day 1, 9th June 2026, Tuesday
Connectivity & Corridor Strategy
8:00
Registration and Morning Coffee
9:00
Chairman’s Welcome Address T C Chew, Managing Director, APAC, Arup
9:10
Opening Keynote Address
9:40
Keynote Address
High-Speed Rail as the Backbone of Asia Pacific Connectivity
Building a Borderless Asia: The Role of HSR in Regional Integration
HSR as a driver of economic and political cooperation
The importance of harmonized regulations and interoperability
Impact on intra-Asia trade and people-to-people movement
Linking secondary cities and rural regions to economic centers
3:15
Networking Afternoon Tea
3:45
Designing High-Speed Rail Systems for Seamless Intermodal Mobility
Integrating HSR with metro, air, and bus networks
Station planning for modal shift efficiency
Unified ticketing and digital travel platforms
First-mile and last-mile connectivity solutions
Cross-Border Coordination, Regulation, and Standards
Challenges in legal, operational, and safety alignment
Bilateral and multilateral agreements for seamless service
Shared customs and immigration models for HSR
ASEAN and APEC’s role in cross-border rail framework
Smart Stations and Urban-Rail Integration in Mega Cities
Data-driven station operations and passenger flows
Station design for urban regeneration and mixed-use development
Using mobility hubs to boost ridership and real estate value
Case Studies
5:30
Chairman’s Closing Address
6:00
Exclusive Networking Evening Reception hosted by DB Engineering
Day 2, 10th June 2026, Wednesday
Financing Strategies, Delivery and Technology
9:00
Chairman’s Address
Tony Watson, Project Director, Typsa
9:10
Delivering Mega HSR Projects in Emerging Markets
Engineering in tropical & coastal conditions
Tunnelling & viaduct complexity
Land acquisition & stakeholder engagement
Programme management & cost control
Lessons from Japan, Spain, China & France
Rolling Stock & Systems Innovation
320–350 km/h trainsets
Lightweight materials & aerodynamics
Noise & vibration mitigation
Signalling systems (ERTMS, CTCS, digital rail)
Cybersecurity in high-speed operations
Digital Rail & AI-Driver Operations
Digital twins for construction & O&M
Predictive maintenance & asset management
AI-based demand forecasting
Integrated mobility platforms
Passenger experience digitisation
10:45
Networking Morning Coffee
Building Domestic Rail Ecosystems
Local manufacturing clusters
Technology transfer agreements
Workforce & rail academies
SME integration into supply chains
Long-term maintenance & lifecycle strategy
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) & Commercialisation
Station commercial ecosystems
Retail, hospitality & mixed-use development
Public-private land partnerships
Revenue diversification models
Case Study: "Hong Kong–Mainland China HSR Financing Model"
Joint funding structure and construction oversight
Revenue management and fare integration
Impact of border control and customs arrangements
Lessons in transparency and dispute resolution
12:30
Networking Lunch
1:30
Financing the HSR Boom: Public-Private Partnerships and Multilateral Opportunities
Bridging infrastructure gaps with blended finance models
The role of MDBs and sovereign wealth funds in Asia
Attracting long-term capital through stable regulation
Project bankability and risk-sharing frameworks
Funding HSR Projects: Government Models, PPPs, and Blended Finance
Budget-based vs. revenue-based funding approaches
Risk allocation in PPPs: what works and what doesn’t
Blending public funds with development and commercial finance
Innovative tax and land-value capture mechanisms
Panel: Attracting Private Investment for Rail Infrastructure
Investor expectations and financial structuring of HSR projects
Creating investable project pipelines in emerging markets
Credit guarantees and financial instruments to reduce risk
Examples of bankable projects from across Asia
3:45
Networking Afternoon Tea
Economic Corridors: HSR as a Catalyst for Regional Development
Creating new industrial zones and employment clusters
Facilitating mobility for labor markets
Encouraging tourism and SME development along corridors
Evidence of GDP and productivity uplift
Research Insights: "HSR’s Role in Urban Transformation
Demographic shifts and new housing demand patterns
Urban sprawl vs. compact development
HSR and the decentralization of economic activity
Long-term planning: balancing growth and livability
Inclusive Growth: Accessibility, Affordability, and Job Creation
Affordable fare policies and social equity
Local job creation in construction, operations, and maintenance
Rail education and workforce reskilling programs
Bridging urban-rural divides with smart connectivity
5:00
Closing Panel:"What’s Next? A Vision for HSR in 2050"
Intercontinental high-speed rail corridors
Fusion of HSR with smart cities and green energy
The digital rail economy of the future
Bold ideas for rethinking mobility in Asia Pacific
5:45
Chairman’s Closing Comments & Conference Wrap-Up
Recap of key insights and Learning. Acknowledgements and Appreciation and an Invitation to Future Collaborations.
Panel of Industry Specialists:
T C Chew Managing Director, APAC, Arup
TC is the Managing Director, APAC and the Global Rail Leader at Arup .
He leads a 6,400+ strong workforce of technical experts across 28 offices in East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, creating value for clients and communities, and helping to realise the fast-growing region’s immense economic potential and sustainable development goals over the coming decade. As Global Rail Leader, TC leads an international team of rail experts working on the design and delivery of major multidisciplinary projects around the world. He specialises in rail transit systems, including high-speed, metros, light, and heavy rail. As a trusted advisor to governments and delivery bodies responsible for major rail projects, TC focuses unlocking the economic, social and environmental value of transport infrastructure.
Prior to Arup, as the President of Global Business Operations, TC led Samsung C&T’s international business operation, establishing it as a trusted Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) company. During his tenure as Projects Director at MTR Corporation, TC was responsible for all new railway projects in Hong Kong as well as MTR’s overseas ventures. At Bombardier Transportation in London as Head of Mass Transit in its systems division, TC oversaw major projects, including the London Underground Victoria Line upgrade and modernisation public-private partnership program.
TC spent eight years with Singapore Land Transport Authority he oversaw all of Singapore’s railway and road projects. He also had the privilege of working on the London Underground Jubilee Line Extension project where he led the overall E&M systems and integration process from concept design stage to commencement of project implementation. TC is an Arup Fellow, a chartered engineer and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and professional institutions in the United Kingdom, the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences and the Hong Kong Institute of Directors. He graduated from Manchester University and holds a Bachelor and Master’s degree.
Dr Sara Cheung Executive Advisor, Asia Era One
Dr. Cheung is the Executive Advisor of Asia Era One Co. Ltd. Prior to her current appointment; she was the COO of Asia Era One and MD of City Line Asia Era One.Dr. Cheung has been very active in the railway industry and was Founder and CEO of Vision Skill Consulting founded in 2002 and serving clients globally. Prior to that, she worked at strategic levels for major companies including the Hong Kong MTR Corporation and Avery Dennison Corp (a member of the Fortune 500). She was advisor for many advisory committees of the Hong Kong government and universities prior to her global business ventures.Dr. Cheung has a bachelor’s degree in science and an MBA from the University of Hong Kong. She received her DBA from the University of Curtin, Australia.
Stefan Geisperger COO, DB Engineering & Consulting
Mr. Stefan Geisperger works as Managing Director International Markets and Consulting DB Engineering & Consulting since August 2022. Mr. Geisperger joined Deutsche Bahn AG (German Railways) in 2013 as Senior VP Sales for DB Fahrzeuginstandhaltung GmbH (vehicle maintenance). In 2020 he moved to DB Engineering and Consulting where he became speaker of the German regions south and southeast. In August 2022 he joined the DB E&Cs board of managing directors as head of international markets and consulting where he is currently responsible for the organization’s global activities. Stefan Geisperger studied Industrial Engineering at the Technical University Munich. He started his professional career at German Mittelstand companies. He first worked for ZF Friedrichshafen AG as Project Manager KAIZEN from 1990-1995. Further professional experiences include Freudenberg Simrit and LUK Fahrzeughydraulik GmbH & Co. KG as well as Rothenberger AG.
Tony Watson
Project Director, Typsa
Currently the Project Director for the Construction Supervision Consultant (CSC) of a 400km, mixed traffic line in Saudi Arabia, Tony is a Chartered Civil Engineer with over 23 years of global experience in delivering major transportation projects, from setting up teams, governance and frameworks, to physically managing the delivery of major infrastructure works.
Tony’s experience covers all forms of rail (Tram / LRT, Metro, conventional, freight and HSR) and the entire project lifecycle from feasibility through to testing and commissioning, including some of the biggest rail infrastructure projects in the world, from Asia Pacific, Middle East and Europe. is experience of working in multiple locations around the world, coupled with having worked as both a Client (Government and Government Linked Companies) and for major international consultants has given him the advantage of seeing the bigger picture and able to provide services to client organisations, consultants and contractors, being able to view problems from all side’s perspectives. Tony’s portfolio includes the following major rail projects (working as):
Kuala Lumpur to Singapore HSR (Client)
Rail Baltica (Client)
Klang Valley MRT2 (Consultant)
Abu Dhabi Public Transport Scheme (Client)
Crossrail (Consultant)
Taiwan High Speed Rail (Consultant)
With very few cross border rail services globally (excluding the existing European Network in the Schengen Area), Tony has experience on two major cross border projects which has given him a distinct understanding of the complexities involved when dealing with infrastructure and services which need to satisfy multiple sets of requirements and governance.
Endorsers:
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Established in 1997, the IARO is a world-wide organisation dedicated to spreading world-class best practice and good workable ideas among people interested in rail links to airports and air-rail intermodality. Over the past 25 years, the IARO has built up an unparalleled network of organisations actively involved in planning, developing, building and operating rail air links - and also other stakeholders, such as airlines, who have a business interest in partnerships for their success.The IARO community facilitates the exchange of experience, ideas and information, offering genuine insight and sector intelligence to its membership. This is achieved through access to our databases, research reports, newsletters, workshops, seminars, archives and via direct contact with fellow members.
We offer Deutsche Bahn's globally recognized expertise all the way from the idea stage to operations, and all from a single source. We advise our customers in Germany and around the world, and work with them to develop innovative, technically sophisticated and customized infrastructure, mobility and transport solutions. By offering sustainable ideas and solutions, we help to ensure the future success of economic regions and make an important contribution to environmental protection, thereby shaping the world of tomorrow.
DB Engineering & Consulting services include: Engineering – Design, Construction Supervision, Project Management, Environment, Geotechnics and Surveying, Design and acceptance testing Consulting – Mobility and logistics consulting, Digital services and solutions
We are a Malaysian engineering consulting firm specializing in Railway Engineering, Digital Engineering, and technical solution services. Powered by homegrown talent and strong local expertise, we deliver high-quality, future-ready solutions that meet global standards while staying true to our core values of integrity, safety, and innovation.
Rail Analysis is a Prominent Rail Print, Digital and Online Media specializing in Railways and Metro Sector of India covering projects such as Traditional Railways, Modern Systems, Metro Systems, High Speed Rail and Station Redevelopment projects. We continue to be focused on the promotion of the Railway Industry development in India and its future growth towards innovation and modernization.
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