For some journeys, the train takes disproportionately longer (Zurich -> Vienna) but when you consider that the journey is way more comfortable on a train (more space, ability to walk around), train stations are in the middle of the city and there is no security or check in queue, the longer journey is more bearable

Ability to walk around is not given on cramped German trains.

> [flying] is much more effective regarding use of time.

For short and medium distances it rarely is, given that

A) for flights, you ought to be at the airport 1 to 2 hours before departure.

B) the train typically takes you from city centre to city centre, while the airport is frequently 1/2 to 1 hours out.

C) on the train, you can work non-stop, while on a short flight a good proportion of the time you spend in security, boarding, take-off and approach, where you can’t be on your laptop.

D) on many routes, trains depart every hour or even more frequently, so you can basically go whenever you want.

> Zurich to Paris just takes too long by train, and doing night trains isn't always an option.

It's a nudge over 4 hours by TGV from Zurich center to Paris center. That is almost certainly comparable to getting from city center to airport, checking in, waiting before flight, flying, waiting for bags, and getting to city center at the other end. Of course, if your source and destination are closer to the airport and you have no bags/minimize waiting time that might tip the flight in your balance but I doubt it'd be very far off in many cases. Personally I'd much rather take the train here -- I find it more comfortable and convenient than flying and for me the overall time taken is comparable.

It can also be cheap. I've had several €29 fares on that route.

Lucky you, 29€ would be one direction regional train inside Germany, short range between major cities.

100€ both ways can be considered a good price, unless one also owns a Bahncard.

4 hours isn't that long, is it? plane cannot beat that by much

Especially when you account boarding, navigating the airport, having to show up at least half an hour before the flight, security checkups... All time-consuming tasks related to boarding the actual aircraft that you don't have to go through to hop on a train.

No, you have to run like crazy hoping not to lose the connection train, being stopped in the middle of nowhere without any information, stuffed into wagons without air conditioning and possibility to open the windows, cramped with more passengers than available seats, without any place to stuff luggage, out of order toilets,....

You get the same issue with connections whether you fly or take the train (I strongly avoid non-direct routes for this reason).

None of my train trips in Europe (Scandinavia, Germany, Switzerland) had the issues you mentioned.

In particular, the designers of the German ICEs seem to have realized over the past ~decade that people don't want to lift heavy bags overhead (especially if the compartment is too small), and that when the only other space to store them is the corridor, the corridor will be full of bags. They added dedicated luggage racks with enough space to actually fit your luggage.

Okay so fly to CDG in Paris and then enjoy the annoying train ride into Paris that takes an hour and leaves infrequently. How do you get to and from the airport anyway?

Many cities it’s a nightmare to get to the airport, whereas the train station is usually central.

None of those is somehow intrinsic to train travel, as I’m sure you’re aware. Quality of service is just a function of priorities.

The train from Zurich to Paris is a TGV with included (mandatory?) seat reservations, air conditioning and plenty of bag space.

TGV is the exception.

German trains pack as much people as possible and occasionally you can consider yourself lucky if you manage to reach your seat, if the wagon is still available to start with.

Agreed. I'd definitely say if you're only travelling across one or two European countries, between major cities, rail is definitely the way to go. It's more comfortable, safer, you're infinitely less likely to get touched up by an overzealous security person, usually takes you right to the city centre that you're interested in, you don't have to worry about Ryanair trying to extort something out of you. You also don't have to worry about airplane mode and many railways provide free (if shockingly bad) WiFi, and many routes have reasonable 3/4G coverage.

If it only took 4h, experience shows otherwise.

In any case, that was just an example, I am not doing Germany - Portugal by train, unless forced to do so. It is more than 24h.

> In any case, that was just an example, I am not doing Germany - Portugal by train, unless forced to do so. It is more than 24h.

That's the point, we need to expand the rail network to make longer distance trips shorter, more comfortable, and affordable. Flying can't continue to be the default option.