Honestly though, sorry if this is derailing this thread, but for a story filled with so, so many bad decisions, the fact that people have enough energy left to complain about the train scene is just... wow.

Anyway, if you ask me - and I'm sorry if this sounds hard - making it into a dream sequence sounds like a dumb idea. Making it a real sequence is better, but still doesn't really have the same impact. I personally have no problem with this scene as, like maybee said, it gives you an exciting intro while also showcasing how Shinra training works and what kind of technology they have access to. It's a solid case of good exposition without using any words - dare I say, it's even subtle, which is a really rare thing in Japanese media.

If you really need to alter it, I'd say get rid of it entirely. If people are upset by it, then perhaps it's just better to start with at a different point.