By rosebell
HSR Asia 2027 will return to Hanoi in March 2027, bringing together the international high-speed rail industry to examine the development, financing, construction and operation of next-generation rail networks across the Asia-Pacific region.
Held under the theme Delivering Asia-Pacific’s Next Generation of High-Speed Rail & Mobility, the two-day conference will focus on three strategic pillars: Connecting Countries, Integrating Mobility and Accelerating Delivery.
The region is entering a significant phase of high-speed rail development, with major programmes moving from policy and planning towards financing, procurement, construction and operations. Vietnam is advancing plans for a nationwide high-speed rail network, Australia is progressing its first high-speed rail corridor towards procurement, India is developing its capabilities beyond its first high-speed line, and Thailand is advancing its HSR programme. Indonesia’s experience with the Whoosh high-speed railway is also providing lessons in project financing, passenger demand and long-term operating economics.
The conference will examine the entire high-speed rail project lifecycle, from policy development, planning and investment to engineering, construction, operations and integration with urban transport networks. Discussions will also address private-sector participation, passenger experience, cross-border collaboration and the long-term financial sustainability of high-speed rail systems.
Beyond the construction of railways capable of operating at speeds of 300–350km/h, the next generation of HSR projects will need to connect effectively with urban rail, regional networks, airports and other transport modes. Integrating these systems will be important to improving passenger mobility, supporting economic development and creating new urban centres.
Regional connectivity will also be a major theme. As rail corridors expand across Southeast Asia and the wider Asia-Pacific, interoperability, common technical standards, international supply chains and cross-border cooperation will become increasingly important.
Vietnam will be a central focus of the 2027 programme. Its planned 1,541km North–South High-Speed Railway, designed for speeds of up to 350km/h and representing an estimated investment of approximately US$67bn, is progressing through a critical development phase. Construction is targeted to begin in late 2027.
Alongside the North–South project, wider rail investments and cross-border connectivity initiatives, including the Lào Cai–Hanoi–Hai Phong railway corridor, are creating opportunities in financing, engineering, technology, systems integration, localisation and supply-chain development.
HSR Asia 2027 will provide a platform for connecting Vietnam’s infrastructure ambitions with the international expertise, investment and technologies shaping high-speed rail development across the region.
The programme will also explore how international industry experience can support technology transfer, workforce development, domestic manufacturing and the development of sustainable national railway industries. Experience from countries including Japan, China, Spain, France and India will provide useful perspectives on moving from the importation of railway expertise towards building domestic capabilities.
For more information, visit the HSR Asia 2027 conference website.
