One of Amtrak’s most beloved scenic routes will be the first in the nation to receive new Airo trainsets later this month.
On Thursday, Amtrak announced that its Cascades route will receive the first of the new fleet of Airo trainsets beginning Sept. 30, giving riders in the Pacific Northwest the exclusive opportunity to experience the much-anticipated new trains.
“The arrival of the new Airo fleet marks an exciting moment for the Amtrak Cascades and passenger rail in the Pacific Northwest,” said Amtrak Interim President Byl Herrmann. “After extensive planning, design, manufacturing and testing, we’re just weeks away from welcoming customers aboard. This is an important milestone not only for Amtrak Cascades customers, but for Amtrak’s broader effort to modernize and expand passenger rail across the country.”
Two Airo trainsets will make their debut on Sept. 30 and will operate four daily trips on the Amtrak Cascades, which connects Vancouver, British Columbia with Seattle, Portland and Eugene, Oregon.
Expand for the initial operating schedule
- Northbound
Train 516: Seattle → Vancouver, B.C. | 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Train 508: Eugene → Seattle | 4:30 p.m. – 10:50 p.m. - Southbound
Train 503: Seattle → Eugene | 7:10 a.m. – 1:48 p.m.
Train 519: Vancouver, B.C. → Seattle | 4:45 p.m. – 9:10 p.m.
The gradual rollout will see more trainsets deployed on the Cascades route in the coming months, with more being added through early 2027.
In total, Amtrak has ordered eight Airo trainsets for the Cascades, as well as two new locomotives and a spare cab car. The current Cascades fleet will be slowly phased out of service until Airo is the new norm.
What features do Amtrak’s Airo trains have?
Amtrak describes the new Airo trains as being “designed for the Pacific Northwest,” featuring the signature “evergreen, cream and mocha color palette” already associated with the Cascades route.
The trainsets were built by German manufacturing conglomerate Siemens, a frequent partner of Amtrak and a major presence in the American railroad industry, at its manufacturing plant in Sacramento, California.
Built on Siemens’ Venture platform, the Airo trains offer modern upgrades to the train interiors, improved accessibility, and enhanced comfort for a “more consistent travel experience.”
The trains boast panoramic windows for a better viewing experience, spacious seats that “prioritize ergonomics” with increased legroom and sturdier tray tables, individual power outlets and USB ports, enhanced 5G enabled Wi-Fi and upgraded food service on each train’s cafe car.
They are also capable of reaching speeds of up to 125 miles per hour, although don’t expect them to reach those speeds very often.
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Dozens of Amtrak’s Airo trainsets departed the manufacturing center in Sacramento earlier this year after years of planning and design.
After the Cascades route, Airo trains will be deployed on the busiest railroad in North America—the Northeast Corridor—as well as other high-traffic routes, including the Empire and Keystone services.
“When the first Airo trainsets welcome passengers later this month, it will mark the start of a journey that extends far beyond the Pacific Northwest,” said Tobias Bauer, CEO of Siemens Mobility North America. “Airo represents the next level for American passenger rail, built on a proven platform that combines innovation, comfort, and accessibility. Designed and assembled in the USA, as this fleet expands nationwide, its impact will be measured not only by new technology, but by the millions of passenger journeys it makes possible.”
Amtrak has other upgrades in mind
The Amtrak Airo trains are just one component of a major upgrading and modernization effort that Amtrak has in the works.
In April, Amtrak announced plans to order 800 new railcars across its 14 long-distance routes. In May, Amtrak celebrated a major milestone involving the Acela, its fastest trains currently in service, which have already logged more than 1 million riders in under one year of service.
In late May, senior Amtrak officials participated in a conversation about ongoing upgrade projects, and said the initiatives have had wide-reaching impact.
Read More: Feds award Amtrak billions for new trains and Midwest infrastructure
“We have over 360 projects, and that alone is creating over $200 billion of investment into the U.S. economy,” said Kuvesh Ayer, Amtrak’s Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer. “We also have investment across the board, starting with new fleet infrastructure, upgrading our stations as well as our bridges and tunnels.”
Ayer said approximately 46,000 jobs are being created “just in the rail sector alone.”
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