Authority CEO Represents California’s High-Speed Rail Project to International Audience

September 26, 2025

SACRAMENTO, Calif. –  The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) announced CEO Ian Choudri has been appointed as the new 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. Choudri will serve alongside NARA Chair Mario Peloquin, CEO of VIA Rail Canada, to represent the North American Region at the UIC Executive Board and General Assembly.

The UIC is a worldwide professional association with a mission to promote rail transportation globally and facilitate coordination and cooperation between six individual regions across the world. NARA is comprised of railroad and government regulators and associations from the United States, Canada and Mexico.

High-Speed Rail Progress

Work continues daily on the high-speed rail project, with 171 miles currently under design and construction from Merced to Bakersfield. Nearly 70 miles of guideway are complete, along with nearly 60 fully completed structures; an additional 29 structures are underway across Madera, Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties.

The project continues to advance statewide, with 463 miles of the 494-mile San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim system fully environmentally cleared and construction ready.

Since construction began, the project has created more than 16,100 good-paying jobs—most filled by Central Valley residents. Up to 1,700 workers report to high-speed rail construction sites each day.

Interviews in Spanish are available upon request. For more information, contact the Authority’s media relations office at: news@hsr.ca.gov.

Se ofrecen entrevistas en Español bajo solicitud. Para obtener más información, contacte a la Oficina de Relaciones con los Medios por correo electrónico: news@hsr.ca.gov.

For the latest on high-speed rail construction, visit www.buildhsr.com.

The following link contains recent video, animations, photography, press center resources and latest renderings: https://hsra.app.box.com/s/vyvjv9hckwl1dk603ju15u07fdfir2q8. Files are all available for free use, courtesy of the California High-Speed Rail Authority.