Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
Listen to an exclusive interview with renowned railway historian Christian Wolmar about his latest book “Fast Track: The Extraordinary Story of High-Speed Rail.”
The book is a complete history of how high-speed rail changed the world, from the original Japanese Shinkansen to the rapid development of the Chinese network in the 21st century. Wolmar also addresses why two notable countries, the U.K. and the U.S., lag behind their global counterparts in this arena.
We discussed the past, present, and future of this incredible technology.
Christian Wolmar is an award-winning writer and broadcaster specializing in transport and is the author of a series of books on railway history, including “The Great Railroad Revolution,” “Blood, Iron & Gold,” and “The Liberation Line.”
He has spent nearly all of his working life as a journalist, and his interest in transport began at The Independent when he was appointed transport correspondent in 1992, a job he held until 1997.
Subscribe to Christian Wolmar’s Transport News on Substack.
transportnews.substack.com
Learn about upcoming discussions hosted by the Alliance: hsrail.org/events
Become a member of the High Speed Rail Alliance: hsrail.org/join-us
The High Speed Rail Alliance is a 501(C)(3) non-profit, supported by individual members like you, who want fast, frequent, and affordable trains throughout North America.
Listen to an exclusive interview with renowned railway historian Christian Wolmar about his latest book “Fast Track: The Extraordinary Story of High-Speed Rail.”
The book is a complete history of how high-speed rail changed the world, from the original Japanese Shinkansen to the rapid development of the Chinese network in the 21st century. Wolmar also addresses why two notable countries, the U.K. and the U.S., lag behind their global counterparts in this arena.
We discussed the past, present, and future of this incredible technology.
Christian Wolmar is an award-winning writer and broadcaster specializing in transport and is the author of a series of books on railway history, including “The Great Railroad Revolution,” “Blood, Iron & Gold,” and “The Liberation Line.”
He has spent nearly all of his working life as a journalist, and his interest in transport began at The Independent when he was appointed transport correspondent in 1992, a job he held until 1997.
Subscribe to Christian Wolmar’s Transport News on Substack.
transportnews.substack.com
Learn about upcoming discussions hosted by the Alliance: hsrail.org/events
Become a member of the High Speed Rail Alliance: hsrail.org/join-us
The High Speed Rail Alliance is a 501(C)(3) non-profit, supported by individual members like you, who want fast, frequent, and affordable trains throughout North America.
