What the article points out is that the distinguishing feature of the railway is that the company has no control how and when you use the train. It's less like someone selling you a journey and more like renting a car. You do not get promised to be brought to your destination, you get promised the availability of the vehicle. That's the same with railways, you get promised the availability of movement at a specific time. That's what the timetable is.

That's also a common criticism by people who prefer there cars: With a railway you need to put in work and decision how you want to travel to a degree that you don't need to in a car.