This Asian Journal special issue comprises a compilation of important studies undertaken by researchers at the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), Tokyo; the University of Tokyo, Japan and the Asian Institute of Transport Development (AITD), New Delhi, India. It aims to highlight the various aspects attached to the implementation of advanced transport infrastructure. This special issue provides a world-view of experiences from countries that have managed running a successful HSR service and draws messages from the lessons learned by these countries while implementing their HSR service.