The report accuses Amtrak of pursuing revenue-producing projects such as Acela Express instead of correcting safety problems that were first identified in 1978, the New York Times reported.

"While we accept the sincerity of Amtrak's Northeast corridor administration's commitment to improve safety, it is clear that Amtrak has invested a great deal more effort in glamorous projects," the report says. "It is clear that Amtrak has sacrificed accelerated tunnel infrastructure improvements for these service expansion and economic development projects."

Amtrak says a lack of money, not concern over safety, is to blame for the lack of safety improvements to the 90-year-old tubes beneath the Hudson and East rivers. Amtrak spokesman Rick Remmington told the Times that Acela did not compete for funding with tunnel improvements. "It wasn't a case of either-or," Remington said. "We were progressing on both at the same time."

The report urged Congress to appropriate money to add escape routes, ventilation, and firefighting equipment to the tunnels, which carry trains operated by Amtrak, New Jersey Transit, and the Long Island Rail Road.