On 19 November in Moscow, RZD President Vladimir Yakunin gave United States Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood a presentation on the program to develop high-speed rail transport in Russia.

The presentation took place at the RZD Science and Technical Information Centre at Rizhsky Station, and was attended by the US ambassador to Russia, John Beyrle.

The RZD president showed the high-speed Sapsan train to the delegation from the US Department of Transportation, and described the program to develop high-speed rail transport in Russia up to 2030.

The US transportation secretary said he was impressed by the first Russian high-speed train, built jointly by German and Russian engineers. He noted that the railway systems of Russia and the United States have much in common, and that the Russian program to develop high-speed rail transport is of great interest to Washington in the light of the new US administration’s project to create a high-speed national rail network.