In addition, the Federal government must reassess the appropriate Federal
role of support for passenger and freight rail services such as Amtrak and
Conrail. Our goal through federal assistance should be to maintain and
enhance adequate rail service, where it is not otherwise available to needy
communities. But Federal subsidies must be closely scrutinized to be sure
they are a stimulus to, and not a replacement for, private investment and
initiative. Federal assistance cannot mean permanent subsidies for
unprofitable operations.