I suspect it’s even more than that, I’ve read one of the major issues that’s not being talked about is one of automation, rail companies are implementing technology to eliminate as many people as possible from being required to operate a train safely, up to and including the engineers.
The railroad industry has spent billions of dollars over the last 15 years to implement “positive train control” (PTC) systems. This technology is supposed to improve safety by automating locomotive and signal controls, and was implemented under a mandate imposed by Congress in 2007.
It should come as no surprise to normal, intelligent people (which would exclude most people in Congress) that the railroad industry would look for opportunities to use that technology to cut costs so they can recover the enormous investment they were forced to make in the first place.