Air is generally cheaper than rail for the cheapest ticket, but more polluting and for journeys under around 300 miles slower, if you’re flying from city centre airports like Billy Bishop or London City, or 500 miles if you’re flying from larger out of city airports. Additionally it’s even safer than flying and you can take way more luggage and bikes.
People don’t tend to have a fear of train travel though, it’s just that NIMBYs, those who would rather pour money into a pit than make investments and corrupt politicians (those last two often being the same people) who tend to dislike it.