Originally Posted by AlanB
...Acela does not offer coach seating.
A matter of semantics, perhaps, but isn't Business Class on Acela actually Coach? There are no perks, no food, no drinks (soft or otherwise), and 2by2 seating with just about the same pitch as Regional Amfleet and less pitch than the old Metroliner coach cars. If it looks like a duck...
Calling Acela Coach, "Business Class" was a marketing move by former Amtrak CEO George Warrington who thought the term would enhance the image of the product and help justify the price tag. He simultaneously applied the tag to Metroliner Coach too with no service enhancements. It may be called "Business Class", but is sure looks like Coach to me.