Perhaps that’s the case in your part of the world but ScotRail drivers on the DOO Glasgow North and South Electric routes receive all sorts of instructions (albeit non safety critical) directly from their Controllers via the GSM-R after a sort of signaller’s revolt in Scotland. The RMT in Scotland said it was not the signaller’s job to issue ‘train operator’ instructions about running non stop, stopping additionally, terminating short, next workings, getting relief etc.. and it nearly came to industrial action so now it’s almost exclusively done by the TOC controllers, who can use their own terminal to send a Contact Control message to the cab mobile. The signaller will be told what’s happening by their own NR Controller so they can regulate accordingly but they’ll usually only know about it after the driver does. I’ve heard there is even about to be a trial of using the GSM-R to broadcast passenger announcements directly from the Control during disruption to save drivers from having to do it.
Ahh I see, clearly totally different proceedures in total in regards to different TOCS or even different regions.
Where I am anyway everything gets verified by signaller or no unusal move/action is taken by the driver