Amtrak’s board of directors on Wednesday fired President David Gunn, saying the debt-laden rail carrier needs “a leader with vision and experience.”

Gunn has struggled to maintain Amtrak service amid a sinking financial picture and a push by the White House and some in Congress to recraft it as a group of regional inter-city companies.

“Amtrak’s future now requires a different type of leader who will aggressively tackle the company’s financial, management and operational challenges,” Amtrak Chairman David Laney said.

Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., said Gunn was fired because of a clash over the board’s vote in September to authorize splitting off the Northeast Corridor, an idea backed by the Bush administration. The corridor accounts for the largest share of the railroad’s ridership.

Gunn assumed the post in 2002 after having headed transit systems in New York City, Washington and Toronto.

Amtrak has a passenger station at 413 E. Seventh St., just east of downtown Lawrence.