Maryland Governor Wes Moore initiated his international trade mission in Ogatayama, Japan, by testing a Maglev train, touted as the world's fastest, and meeting with Japanese and Maryland delegates. As reported by CBS News Baltimore, this high-speed rail technology could revolutionize transport between Baltimore and New York, cutting travel time down to one hour and vastly improving the commute from Washington, D.C., to Baltimore to only 15 minutes. The magnetic levitation mechanism allows the train to glide over the tracks without friction, reaching up to 370 miles per hour.
According to CBS News Baltimore, following the test ride, Moore said, "Strong public transportation infrastructure is key to connecting Marylanders from where they live to where opportunity lies" during a press statement. He highlighted the excitement of witnessing the technology firsthand and its potential role in Maryland's economic growth despite the state's current budget deficit, which overshadows the bleakness of the Great Recession, with a $2.7 billion shortfall anticipated for the next fiscal year beginning July 1.
This visit marked the beginning of Moore's ambitious weeklong tour, including South Korean engagements to foster economic development. The governor experienced the train's unprecedented speed alongside two dozen other Maryland officials and private-sector leaders, an event that Moore summed up with a single expression: "Wow," as FOX Baltimore noted. The trip's timing coincided with a period of extraordinary significance for Maryland, giving Moore an unusual but promising start to his term in office.
