What is the average time and distance needed to reach cruising height? I am trying to compare trains with airplanes and the distances where taking a train is more viable than an airplane. I guess this would depend on the type of plane, but the Airbus 320 seems like a common enough plane in Europe so I have something along that type in mind.

As far as I know, it would be a good model for airplanes to separate the takeoff and landing phase, where they cover less ground and does take appreciable time on shorter hauls and the cruising phase. I found average speed for the latter but I don't know how much time takeoff takes and how much ground the aircraft can cover during this. Same goes for landing, so my question is, how much time do these take and how far does the aircraft get during these?

I'm also assuming that when looking at city center to city center travel times, taking a plane has about a three hour overhead (airports are far and it takes quite a long time to get in, security check and all), but if anybody actually knows some statistics on this I'd be much obliged :)
I answer directly to the title of the question:


  What is the average time and distance needed to reach cruising height?


The Takeoff takes very little time, but the climb phase depends on the cruise flight level clearance. Assuming you climb with a vario of 2000ft/min with an average IAS of 200kts. The time to reach the cruise level is equal to:

(Cruise level in ft - takeoff terrain elevation if ft)/2000, the result is in minutes.

So if the departure is at sea level and the cruise altitude is at 30000ft, the climb phase will take : 30000/2000=15min

The descent till arrival could be more complicated because in addition to the pure descent you have to level before intercepting the approach phase which occurs relatively at lower speed. If you are lucky, not having to hold above the airport, the total descent might take 20 to 30 minutes

Routes are not necessarily straight lines, nevertheless you may assume an average cruise True speed of 500 knots.