Your claim is of sync with reality at least with respect to travel between Boston and New York City. Acela Express is much roomier than a bus. Has laptop power connections. Some seats have desks/tables. You can get up and walk around. You can buy food or a drink. Completely different experience. And this is why they can charge airline-level prices (or even more). It beats the planes because you get on at South Station in Boston and you get off at Penn Station in NYC rather than some airport off in the hinterlands.