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.