This is a common misnomer, with regard to r/r disfunction. I have worked in the railroad industry for 23 years, and i would love more than anything else to blame the feds for this....
But...
The true reason is that the cost of replacing and repairing our current infrastructure is so high, that our rail system limps along on a wing and a prayer. This is economics, pure and simple.
Most r/r's are so close to border line broke, that they can't in most cases afford to keep their infrastructures in pristine condition.
The lawsuits from car hitting train accidents all have payoffs to the lawbreakers that are usually always staggeringly in the millions of dollars.
The solution? For the life of me, I can't think of one, that is why the "great" European rail systems are completely socialized, having the governments paying for everything...not a workable solution here in this country.
By the way...I am not a Federal employee!!