WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced the arrival of the first Amtrak Airo trainset on May 17, 2026, at King Street Station in Seattle. The arrival marks the beginning of the final testing phase for the equipment.
The first trainset represents a new generation of rail travel, designed to elevate the experience and strengthen service across the Pacific Northwest. With regionally inspired design, modern amenities, enhanced accessibility, and local food & beverage offerings, the new trains are built around the people who ride them.
– Amtrak (May 17, 2026)
The Amtrak Airo trainset is the first of 8 planned for the Amtrak Cascades route, which serves locations between Vancouver, British Columbia, and Eugene, Oregon. This rollout is part of a national procurement of 83 trainsets manufactured by Siemens Mobility in Sacramento, California.
Click for more information
Click for more information
The testing process is in the third of 3 stages.
- static testing at the Siemens Mobility facility in Sacramento, California
- dynamic testing at the Transportation Technology Center (TTC) in Pueblo, Colorado
- mainline testing on the Pacific Northwest corridor
During the dynamic testing phase at the TTC, the trainset completed 250 miles of operation to evaluate braking, ride quality, and software systems. Additional testing was conducted on the Northeast Corridor on tracks managed by Amtrak before the equipment was moved to Seattle for corridor-specific evaluation.
The trainsets are dual-power and capable of speeds up to 125mph. Features include:
- individual power outlets
- USB ports
- onboard Wi-Fi
- panoramic windows
- digital information displays
- automated steps
Amtrak Cascades service using the trainsets is scheduled to begin later this year.
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