Are planes really more noise pollution? I agree they create more concentrated noise, but they seem to be less noisy overall than trains since planes are quiet once in the air.
Commercial jets starting, idling, and taxiing are incredibly dirty machines - it's nowhere near their optimal operating conditions and it's not like they have catalytic converters cleaning up their exhaust.
Furthermore, even though they're not supposed to jettison fuel before landing anymore, I'd find what were clearly oily droplet stains on my convertible's rag-top disturbingly often. Busy international airports are environmental disasters.
HSR seems like a complete no-brainer for domestic travel from where I'm sitting, if only we could get the lines built in the US.
Honestly the most annoying part of living next to the train was waiting for the level crossing.
Furthermore, for a given noise level, any number of surveys have shown that noise from planes is more annoying than from trains or roadways.