In pondering my favorite forms of transportation, the plane, the train and the automobile, I must tip my beret this week to the ever-evolving locomotive and the lean, mean railed machine that broke the record this week for rail travel time between London and Paris. (Ya gotta love that chunnel.)

In a trial run on its new rail system, Eurostar covered the London - Paris distance in an amazing two hours and three minutes--about what it takes to travel from city center to airport and wade through security. What's particularly stunning aside from the time record, is the investment made to make rail travel a viable, if not preferred, alternative to flying between the two capitals. With a price tag of 5.8 billion pounds or roughly $12 billion, one might conclude that the U.S. is still at the station when compared to its European counterparts.

Thanks to Amtrak's high-speed Acela, we're beginning to "think we can, think we can" actually create fast, convenient and competitive rail travel, at least in the Northeast corridor. Out west, in my hometown of Seattle, I fantasize about a high speed rail link between Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, B.C.  When I currently leave my home 2-3 hours ahead of time just to make it to the airport for a 45-minute Seattle-Portland flight, I bristle at the realization that driving the route would take less time.  

Read more: Eurostar Set London-Paris Record