Amtrak Debuts Airo Fleet on Cascades Route September 30

Amtrak will debut its new Airo fleet on the Cascades intercity route on September 30, 2026. The rollout begins with one daily roundtrip between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., and another between Seattle and Eugene, Oregon, with a full transition to next-generation trains expected by early 2027.

The Siemens-built trainsets increase passenger capacity to 300 per departure. This expansion addresses seat shortages caused by the March 2025 removal of corroded 1980s-era Horizon cars. The new fleet features modernized interiors, touchless restrooms, and enhanced Wi-Fi, alongside improved fuel efficiency.

Despite the hardware upgrades, the new trains will not increase travel speeds or frequency. Operations remain limited by a 79 mph track limit and congestion on privately-owned freight lines. To support the fleet, a $300 million federally-funded maintenance facility is nearing completion south of downtown Seattle.

Washington Secretary of Transportation Julie Meredith described the trains as a game-changer for regional travel, while Charles Hamilton of All Aboard Washington noted the importance of the increased capacity. Celia Ann Pfleckl, Amtrak's Assistant Vice President for the Airo program, stated the modernization effort is setting the company up for the future of rail.