I think that scenario is actually the opposite of the train regulatory environment. Cars have been really overregulated for years(how many major car brands are new in the last 50 years?).

I've worked on post-2000 cars; it's not far fetched to me to believe that emission standards became unrealistic. The whole industry was in on that scandal.

Whats unusual to me looking back now is how much the press cared about that vs. east palestine/train regs.