Considering the advancement of technology, what are the things they do that can’t be replaced by automation?
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It takes time for the new technology to be deployed on a large scale. It takes time and resources to build all the sensors into the infrastructure and ensure everything talks with each other and works properly. Most train equipment have a service life of 40 years and the tracks have a service life of 100 years so it will take some time to upgrade everything so it can become fully autonomous. Currently I only know of one fully autonomous rail line and that is a newly built line through London.
So train drivers have to make sure that the train does not run a red signal, that they do not hit someone or something on the tracks, that the doors do not close on people, etc. And that is also assuming the train have auto throttle which most do not yet have. But even if you manage to install sensors and fences and such so that the trains can drive themselves without hurting anyone you still need someone on the train to handle unusual events. For example people or debris blocking the sensors, sensors or signalling equipment failing, driving the train in case of emergencies, shifting the train in the yard, hooking up to dead trains to tow them on, etc. There are lots of things that still require someone on the train.
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