As I noted just below I've been doing a good deal of train travel recently, mostly in and around Switzerland. In today's gadget infested world I am beginning to see a really good attraction to first-class train travel, namely the availability of power outlets. I'm not clear if this is an Italian or a Swiss idea but Cisaplino trains between Zürich and Milano have power outlets in first class but not in cattle class. Combined with the adequately priced meal (and adequately tasting) available in restaurant car and the choice of flight vs train to gop between the two cities is clear. It is true that the train takes a little longer but the scenery is spectacular and the comforts of the train far greater. Indeed one is able to get a lot of work done in the train whereas the contnual breaks for boarding take off landing etc mean that it is far harder to get any work done in the air.
There is another advantage of train travel, at least in Switzerland, and that is the presence of Swiss soldiers. If I were a terrorist I would not even think about hijacking or attacking a Swiss train from the inside because many Swiss soldiers on their way to their duties use the railway. Unfortunately I was unable to take a photo of today's trip to Basel where I was surrounded by a squad of soldiers who were travelling with their rifles and (I assume) some ammunition, but it was impressive. I don't know whether the Swiss soldiers are well trained or not but I damn well know that if I were a terrorist I'd reconsider any plans on a train where there could be a squad of armed soldiers boarding at any station. There is something about the cammo uniforms and the loosely carried assault rifle that, I imageine, would make you reconsider the wisdom of any plan and the unpredictability of their movements would seem to be as effective as any undercover agent in terms of deterrence. I wonder whether the UK tube bombs would have occured if British soldiers were as accustomed to travel around London in a similar uniformed and armed state?