Two Major Train Upgrades Arrive in the Puget Sound Region This Week
The new U.S.-made trains add upgraded seating, USB-C chargers and monitoring systems as Amtrak begins replacing Amfleet and Talgo equipment.
- On Wednesday, Amtrak will debut two new Airo trainsets on the Cascades route, operating four daily trips between Vancouver, British Columbia, Seattle, Portland, and Eugene, Oregon.
- The Airo fleet, manufactured by Siemens Mobility in the United States, represents Amtrak's largest fleet replacement program in its 50-year history, featuring advanced monitoring systems to reduce vehicle downtime.
- Each trainset has a capacity of over 300 seats with individual power outlets and USB-C chargers; capable of speeds up to 125 mph, the trains serve the 467-mile route with improved fuel efficiency.
- Washington State Department of Transportation Secretary Julie Meredith called the trains a "game-changer for rail travel in the Pacific Northwest," while Oregon Department of Transportation interim director Chris Warner highlighted record ridership support.
- Eighty-Three Airo trainsets will replace older equipment on at least 14 intercity routes nationwide, with the Northeast Corridor scheduled to receive trains in 2027, according to Amtrak Interim President Byl Herrmann.
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Amtrak Cascades Airo trains debut Sept. 30 in the Pacific Northwest
Two Airo trainsets will starting running four times a day on the Amtrak Cascades beginning Wednesday. They include improved seats, larger tray tables, accessible bathrooms and power outlets at each seat.
Oregon and Washington Passengers Will Be First in the Nation to Board Amtrak’s New Airo Trains Tomorrow
Oregon’s Pacific Northwest Amtrak Cascades passengers will be among the first to experience the railroad’s new Airo trains that debut on Wednesday, September 30. Oregon is recognized for its record-breaking use of the railroad, with ODOT reporting 14,263 passengers on the Eugene to Portland section in March 2024: a 57% increase over usage the previous […]
Amtrak Airo Sneak Peak
The newest trains in Amtrak’s fleet, Amtrak Airo, will welcome their first customers tomorrow on the Cascades route. To celebrate the launch, Amtrak invited Seattle Transit Blog and other media organizations to tour and ride one of the new trains this past Saturday. The event kicked off with a marching band and speeches from leaders … Continue reading "Amtrak Airo Sneak Peak"
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