What costs me less and gets me to my destination faster, and airplane or a train?
For some trips, I would include Cadillac Escalade in the same comparison.
Living in the northeast, it takes (With early arrival time, car rentals and baggage claims) the same amount of time for me to drive from Southern Connecticut to Charlotte North Carolina as it does to fly.
And far cheaper.
What costs me less and gets me to my destination faster, and airplane or a train?
Planes are better for long distances. But for shorter, regional trips, trains are much better than inefficient short-hop air flights. (especially if you factor in airport security hassles.)