Report says Amtrak’s new higher-speed trains delayed by planning, track issues

WASHINGTON, Dec 22 (Reuters) – U.S. passenger railroad Amtrak’s next-generation ‍high-speed Acela train cars were delayed by more than four years due ‌to planning, design ‌and track issues and a desire for higher speeds that has not ​materialized, a Senate report ‍issued late ​on Monday said.

Amtrak’s $2.3 ​billion program to ‍replace its high-speed trains along the northeast U.S. corridor lost $287 million in ‍revenue and unplanned maintenance costs because of extended use ‍of ‍the older ​Acela fleet, said ​Senate ⁠Commerce Committee ‌chair Ted Cruz in a report.

(Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Chris ⁠Reese)