1. The Need to Focus and the Ability to Relax
Both planes and trains win this over cars. As a driver, I have to actually pay attention to the road (yes, even on flatter-than-flat empty sections of I-80). As a passenger, I can relax; even compared to being a passenger in a car, both a train and a plane win, because the space associated with my relaxation is much more flexible. And of course plane loses to train here because of the tightness of seats and the existence of turbulence.
Oh yeah, and you can walk around in a train. No turbulence warnings and seatbelt indicators, no "don't stand up! You're driving the car!" screams from passengers, just the plain old ability to move. Sure, depending on the train there may not be much of a much in terms of places to go, but the simple ability to move, as a normal part of transportation, is good.
Oh yeah, and there's a bathroom, on intercity trains anyway, and that's a win.
2. Weather
Look, trains get delayed by weather too. I acknowledge this. Amtrak is particularly bad at this. But I have friends who still haven't made it to New England by plane today, and I hate driving myself in bad conditions, so the train wins here too. Keep the tracks clear, and the train can go on, because there isn't traffic.
God I hate plane travel in bad weather.
3. Sights
Nothing against aerial views, but clouds eliminate or reduce a lot of them (plus there's this thing called "not having a window seat"). And cars on highways tend to be baffled away from some views for sound reasons, plus the driver really ought to keep an eye on the road.
But on a train? See whatever you want. There might even be an observation car!
There are other considerations of course (cost is a big one; the actual absence of trains from much of the US is another). But wow, I wish I could have done this on a train.
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