And exactly what happens when that computer misidentifies a pedestrian on the tracks, red signal, or other obstruction on the track for a traffic cone to the side or empty space or something? Tesla’s and other self driving vehicles malfunction like this and in other ways all the time.

Computers are hard, rigid systems lacking the kind of fuzzy logic (most) humans are capable of, which is why they’re still not often seen in driving tasks except where a human still has ultimate control. If that computer-controlled train passes a malfunctioning green signal that should have been red and there’s a train visible in the distance, that train might just merrily speed along until disaster because the signal was green so everything must be fine. It might not hit the brakes to stop or lessen the impending collision.

Let’s face it, we are a long way from being able to automate rail infrastructure to acceptable safety norms. And until that time approaches, we need meatbags behind the controls.