I think the article is really complaining about the difference between high-speed and normal trains, rather than the train<->plane comparison. In your own exam

I think the article is really complaining about the difference between high-speed and normal trains, rather than the train<->plane comparison. In your own example, you could be catching a slower train and still get there faster than the plane. It's not really the 'high speed' bit of the train that matters much. You can also argue that nowdays it matters even less. With WIFI/3G, as you say, you can get useful work done on a train journey, so even if it takes a bit longer, the travel is not dead/wasted time for business. This weakens the case for high speed trains even more. I agree with your points though, I've commuted London<->Paris by plane and train, and the train is so much nicer.