Obviously part of the problem is poor organisation, the companies not actually doing their job properly, being more worried about grabbing massive taxpayer subsidies than running a good service etc. etc. etc.
But I also think it's cultural. Back in the days when my Dad was working for British Rail, the railways were staffed by people who actually liked and understood railways. There was a family feeling - and when he joined the management trainee scheme, fresh out of uni, you HAD to learn how to drive and spend time with drivers and guards. The managers had to know how the people actually doing the fundamental job worked - there was some mutual respect, everyone wanted to do a good job.
From what I see, all that has gone. You've got bus companies and airline companies running railways, imposing their way of doing things on passengers (e.g. charging a huge premium for walk-up fares, despite many passengers not wanting to book months in advance or be restricted to one particular train). They don't actually care about railways, or try to understand railways, they just care about making money.
For instance, the cost of building a simple footbridge to go between platforms under BR was a fraction of what it is today, because all the different companies involved want their slice of the pie.
So I wouldn't be surprised if drivers weren't inclined to help the bosses out when they stuff up, tbh.