U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood took a ride Tuesday on the fastest passenger train in the world, a maglev, as part of Japan's sales pitch for billions of dollars in high-speed train contracts.
Washington is attempting to drive development of a new train network that will eventually span the country, but the U.S. has almost no domestic experience or technology. Japan, with one of the most advanced train systems in the world, is an eager seller, though it has had scant success with exports so far.
LaHood, who in the past few months has also ridden high-speed trains in Spain and France, said he was impressed with Japanese technology, but that is only part of the equation.