John

I've ridden both trains & planes too. However, I try & correlate "parking lot to parking lot" time. Sure, the actual flight time is usually much less w/flying, but the entire process of flying is certainly getting to be much longer with airport expansions & security measures.

Then, there's the weather delay things. If you've ever been put up "overnight" somewhere by the airlines due to weather, you understand totally.

I do wish we had the European passenger train system here in the US, however, I realize it's a different consideration totally. I think our biggest deterrent is called "railroad crossing" elimination.