If pausing our rail network for a few days results in such serious consequences, then we should probably be treating these workers as essential, with significant training, requirements for them to have adequate time off, and basically any other benefit we can. Their jobs should be so well compensated, with such cushiness, that they are never stressed on normal days, have the opportunity to pay ample attention and time to anything that needs to be paid attention to, and everyone in the country should be trying to get one of these jobs. If railroads are that essential to the country, they should be nationalized completely, and the workers treated like rockstars.
