Board ousts Amtrak chief over too-slow progress

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Nov 10, 2005

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Amtrak's president was fired Wednesday by the company's board of directors, who said David Gunn did not drive the debt-laden rail service fast enough toward major changes.

Democrats criticized Gunn's ouster and questioned whether the firing was legal, contending it was part of a Bush administration effort to kill national rail service.

As Amtrak's president and chief executive, Gunn struggled to maintain service amid a sinking financial picture and a push by the White House and some in Congress to transform the railroad into a group of companies offering regional service.

Gunn was offered the chance to resign; he refused.