Americans are one step nearer to having modern, European-inspired trainsets on certainly one of Amtrak’s most scenic routes.
The first Airo trainset arrived in Seattle this week for the ultimate part of testing on the Amtrak Cascades tracks, which runs from Vancouver by means of Washington and Oregon. It’s the primary of eight trainsets that Amtrak plans to roll out alongside the route by the top of 2026.
The new trains will function trendy facilities, upgraded eating choices and, maybe most significantly, even larger home windows for taking in the views of a few of the most dramatic surroundings in the nation. Here’s what vacationers want to know in regards to the new Airo trains earlier than they welcome the primary passengers on board later this yr.
What to anticipate on board
Airo’s smooth coach vehicles function upgraded, ergonomic seats with loads of legroom, USB charging ports, sturdier tray tables, seatback pill stands, and cupholders. “It’s a more open experience. It’s better lit. It’s newer materials,” Derek Maier, senior director of Amtrak’s Airo program, advised the New York Times.
They’ll even have extra capability on board, Amtrak says. The new Airo trains will seat round 300 passengers, roughly 50% greater than the present getting old tools on the road. That ought to assist with rising ridership. More than 950,000 folks traveled on the Cascades service in 2025, a 1.4% improve over the earlier yr.
There’s additionally an upgraded business class with each single and double seats, and an up to date cafe automobile that can present “more contemporary” and self-service meals choices.
The trainsets had been constructed domestically by Siemens, the identical producer as Amtrak’s new Acela trains, which debuted in the Northeast in 2025.
Prior to Seattle, the trains had been first examined in Colorado on a devoted take a look at observe, Amtrak says, after which on lively tracks in the Northeast Corridor. They even stopped in Washington, DC for a photograph op earlier than heading west for this ultimate part of testing. Now, Amtrak will likely be coaching employees and doing follow runs alongside the route they’ll truly serve.
Which Amtrak routes could have the brand new Airo trains?
In complete, 83 trainsets are on order to be used throughout the Amtrak community, the primary eight of that are set to be delivered to be used on the Cascades by the top of 2026.
There are at present seven roundtrips per day alongside the Cascades hall, which roughly follows Interstate 5: All however one run between the principle cities of Portland and Seattle—a 3.5-hour journey—with two extending south to Eugene, Oregon and two going north to Vancouver. In 2025, the trains had been on time 67% of the time.