No I do not accept it discriminates if properly managed.
Furthermore I would expect the railway to make use of new technology to run a cost effective, modern, capacity constrained transport system, that does what it says on the tin in the interests of customers and stakeholders.
Crossrail and Thameslink core will be ATO, I would expect this to be extended from the core over time. The GWML, GEML and most parts of the core Southern network are extremely capacity constrained and London is set to grow considerably over the years. I would expect other commuter networks round the country to follow suit.
I would expect all metros to be fully automated to "Grade of Automation 4 Systems" over the next 20 years.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_automated_urban_metro_subway_systems
I would also expect branch line shuttled to be fully automated in the next 20 years, once obstacle deflectors are fitted and level crossing eliminated.
I would also expect HS2 to be built as a primarily automated system.
There are deep questions over the efficiency of lines that are provided with a guards on 30k plus a year, a driver on 40k plus a year, and a signalbox every few miles with the signalman on 30k plus, that carry less than a few small percent modal share.
It is not an efficient transport system, wages are included in any reopening or enhancement scheme. That is why the Ivanhoe line phase 2 was thrown out recently, It's more cost effective to put a bus on almost all of the time in many cases. That is a fact.
On freight, Autohaul or something similar to Positive train control will become the norm too.
The railway is simply a transport system designed to move people and goods from A to B with advantages in capacity, comfort and speed. It should move with the times and these things can be managed.
http://www.irse.org/knowledge/publicdocuments/IRSE_Seminar_16_Nov_2010_web.pdf