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High Speed Trains Killing Airplanes in Europe

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[quote user="MichaelSol"] [quote user="cogloadreturns"]A journey on high-speed train Eurostar between London and Paris generates one-tenth of the carbon dioxide produced by an equivalent flight, according to independent research commissioned by Eurostar. [/quote]This is interesting, as the fuel efficiency of a high speed transportation system on the ground exceeds by several times the fuel efficiency of air travel. This requires enormous taxpayer support, but if fuel efficiency is a key driver in the decision making process, it now seems that government investment in high speed rail service makes far more sense than further expansion of the air transportation system.[/quote]Will this still be true with the introduction of new, more fuel efficient airplanes?I understand the Boeing 787, for example, will be 40 per cent more fuel efficient and, therefore, emit fewer pollutants than the airplanes that it is designed to replace.  And this is just the first of a new generation of airplanes that will take to the skies over the next decade or so.A lot of the discussions comparing the energy efficiency of trains to other modes of transport seem to ignore the technological changes that are taking place in the other modes.  Maybe it is me, but I don't see advocates for more passenger rail recognize that airplanes are more efficient and cleaner now than they were a decade or so ago, as are road vehicles, and that they are likely to be much cleaner in the future.Having said that, I am a strong advocate of rapid corridor rail where there is a market for it, preferably one that can be funded with private monies or at least a private/government partnership.  I think the average person does not give a hoot about the energy efficiency of one mode of transport over another, except to the extent that he sees it come out of his pocket in the ticket price.  Most people want to get from point A to point B quickly, safely, dependably, comfortably, and economically.  For the most part they don't care about the underlying technology.Of course, if there is a significant gap between the energy efficiency of one mode compared to the alternatives, it will show up in the cost, but I suspect the gap would have to be quite large for it to make a large price point difference.
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