Passengers traveling on the Amtrak Cascades route can now ride aboard Amtrak’s new Airo trains, which entered service Wednesday in the Pacific Northwest.
The rollout marks the first time the new Airo trainsets have carried passengers anywhere in the country. Two trains are now operating on the Cascades route, serving four daily trips between Vancouver, B.C., Seattle, Portland and Eugene.
The new trains will gradually replace the current Cascades fleet through early 2027.
Amtrak says the Airo trains were designed with a focus on comfort, technology and accessibility. Each train includes more than 300 seats, complimentary Wi-Fi, power outlets and USB-C charging ports, larger windows, digital passenger information displays, and upgraded restrooms with touchless features.
The trains also feature a refreshed café menu inspired by the Pacific Northwest.
“The arrival of the new Airo fleet marks an exciting moment for passenger rail in the Pacific Northwest,” Amtrak Interim President Byl Herrmann said in a statement.
Washington State Department of Transportation Secretary Julie Meredith called the trains a “game-changer” and noted the Pacific Northwest is the first region in the nation to put the new fleet into service.
Amtrak has ordered eight Airo trainsets for the Cascades corridor, along with two new locomotives. Additional trainsets are expected to enter service over the coming months.
The trains were manufactured in the United States by Siemens Mobility and include components from nearly 100 suppliers across 31 states.
Passengers can identify trips operated by the new trains through a “New Train” label on Amtrak’s website and mobile app.
The Airo trains are part of a larger effort by Amtrak to modernize passenger rail service nationwide, with future deployments planned on other routes, including the Northeast Regional service.
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