In the Japanese model the rail company also owns land around the station, so they capture more of the value of rail transport. Rail in the UK does not capture all the value it delivers, so subsidies would be a pragmatic solution.
It's sarcasm, many drivers don't realize that the public subsidizes them too, but have such silly arguments.
For clarity's sake, I think railways should be public, and paid for with a combination of taxes and fares.