(The Associated Press circulated the following article on May 11.)
WASHINGTON — The brake problems on Amtrak’s high speed Acela trains are prompting new calls for a complete overhaul of the passenger rail system.
In a congressional subcommittee hearing today, Representative John Mica of Florida said the Acela trains were failing not because of the brakes but because of Amtrak’s inability to run a high speed system.
Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings agrees there are management problems. But he says they’re caused by inadequate funding from Congress.
Democratic lawmakers lined up to support Amtrak for taking Acela trains off the tracks before the cracked brakes caused any major accidents.
The cracks on brake rotors were discovered last month. Amtrak says its losing millions of dollars in ticket sales while Acela is out of service.