U.S. Sen. John McCain, who is due to take over transportation matters in the Senate, said Nov. 14 there are no reassurances for the long-term financial survival of Amtrak, Reuters reports.

McCain, the incoming chairman of the Commerce Committee, said he would not back substantial long-term subsidies for the nation's only city-to-city passenger rail network.

"Subsidization forever of Amtrak is nothing that this senator will ever support," the Arizona Republican said on the Senate floor. He also criticized a legislative proposal for massive rail aid now stalled on Capitol Hill.

McCain will replace Sen. Ernest Hollings, a South Carolina Democrat, as head of the Commerce Committee. Hollings is a champion of Amtrak and fierce opponent of Bush administration proposals to privatize the service.