1) There will be a direct train to Amsterdam within 3 years, as there will be direct trains to Germany.
2) As far as I am aware the airline industry has benefitted from large dollops of taxpayers cash in the past which has been conveniently written off, and still does as it's passengers use taxpayer funded forms of transport (i.e. roads and railways) to get to the respective terminals. Airtrack and Heathrow Express also (and will) benefit from taxpayer funded facilities and I use a taxpayer funded service when I fly to Sumburgh. And the airlines still benefit from taxpayer funded services now (see NATS).
3) Funnily enough I was under the impression that the Train Operators were private companies who responded to the whims of the market (allegedly).
4) But a fair and valid comparison is made -When I travel to Scotland via Southampton, I would rather be on a delayed plane then a delayed train.