Amtrak’s new Airo train arrives in Seattle, kicking off sweeping U.S. rail upgrade

KGW 8 ^ | May 18, 2026 | Katrina Morgan, Alex McLoon

[Morgana]

Amtrak is beginning the rollout of its next-generation Airo passenger trains, marking the start of a nationwide fleet modernization effort that will eventually bring dozens of new trainsets to routes across the country.

The first Amtrak Cascades Airo trainset arrived Saturday in Seattle ahead of its expected debut this fall, becoming the first of 83 planned Airo trainsets that officials say will gradually enter service nationwide in the coming years. The new trains are designed to replace aging rail cars that have been in service for decades on several passenger rail routes.

The Amtrak Cascades route connects Eugene, Oregon, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia. Eight new Airo trainsets are planned for the corridor.

“This is the first place in the United States where these new trainsets are going to be deployed,” Amtrak Cascades spokesperson Kirk Fredrickson said, citing a strong demand for passenger rail and the age of the current Cascades equipment.

Amtrak’s nationwide Airo fleet modernization program, which brought the trainset to Seattle, will eventually include 83 trainsets deployed across multiple U.S. routes, including the Northeast Regional, Empire Service, Virginia Services, Keystone Service, Downeaster, Maple Leaf, New Haven/Springfield Service, Palmetto, Carolinian, Pennsylvanian, Vermonter, Ethan Allen Express and Adirondack.

Mike Bergman, a retired transit planner and train enthusiast, said the arrival represents a major milestone for passenger rail in the United States.

“Amtrak doesn’t get new equipment very often,” Bergman said.

The new trainsets include larger panoramic windows, more spacious seating, upgraded ADA seating, larger accessible restrooms and USB-C charging ports at every seat. Officials said the trains will also increase passenger capacity by nearly 50%, with about 300 seats on each train.

The Airo line is also more fuel efficient, producing 90% less particulate emissions in diesel operations, and faster, traveling speeds of up to 125 mph.

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TOPICS: Travel
KEYWORDS: amtrak; railroad; trains; transportation

[hinckley buzzard]

Manufactured in Sacramento by Siemens.

[Leaning Right]

I’m just throwing this out here.

Back when I was a young man, there was a passenger train station in a small town maybe 15 minutes from my house. Trains stopped there all the time.

That station is long gone. So if I want to take a train now, I’ve got to drive to a nearby big-city, try to find a parking space, then catch a 3:20 AM train.

No thanks.

And I don’t see how fancy new trains will make any difference.

[fruser1]

I take it they don’t have a smoking car.

[fidelis]

From the article it sounds like they are replacing a lot of older trains in the north and east and nothing about expanding or opening new lines (or reopening old ones).

My family loves riding trains (my wife just today came back from California on the train) but we live in the Phoenix area and have to drive two hours to Tucson to catch one. Her train left LA at 10:30 last night and arrived in Tucson at 7:30 AM. I had to get up at 4:00 AM and drive 2 hours to pick her up.

Used to be multiple train stations in my town and in Phoenix, but no more. Wish they'd bring them back.

[aomagrat]

When I was a youngster back in the pre Amtrak days, I lived in a small town of about 500 people that had two train stations (Southern Railway and Seaboard Air Line) that had daily train service. My friends and I liked to hang out out the Southern station and watch the trains and talk with the station agent. The Seaboard agent would run us off if we hung around there. It probably helped that my grandfather had retired from the Southern and was now the Mayor. The coming of Amtrak ended all passenger service for that town. The stations are now long gone. End of an era.

[G Larry]

How about some new tracks and bridges?!?!?!

Those should be the priority!

[mewzilla]

We want great trains and great service, we need to privatize Amtrak.

[Morgana]

“How about some new tracks and bridges?!?!?! “

The tracks in my area are so old they have written on them “Casey Jones was here”

We had a derailment in our town last summer and several in the last few years due to old tracks.

[Secret Agent Man]

I think its cool you can travel via train. Maybe in nicer newer train cars its more palatable.

That said I probably wouldn’t do it. Little too restrictive for me, plus I don’t see a lot of people picking this option for one of the few vacation times they get per year. Retired and dont want to drive or fly, or maybe relatives are near the end of a trip, yeah, could see that.

[Az Joe]

Can’t she catch a train in Maricopa?

[unread]

"I don’t see how fancy new trains will make any difference."

Yeah, train travel in the US is a total bust.

In 1966 I took a train from Cincinnati to El Paso. It wasn't hard to do. I don't know how or where one would need to go to accomplish such a feat nowadays.

And who knows how many different directions you would find yourself going in just to get from A to B..

[dljordan]

I wanted to take a train from Denver to Nashville. I had to go to Chicago, to DC then to Dyersburg, TN. I didn’t book it.

[fidelis]

She can, to go west. It’s the return trip that’s a bear.

[yuleeyahoo]

Amtrack doesn’t own any tracks. They lease time from the freight lines, that’s why train service is so slow and destinations are restricted to mostly large cities.

[Dr. Franklin]

I’m just throwing this out here.
Back when I was a young man, there was a passenger train station in a small town maybe 15 minutes from my house. Trains stopped there all the time.
That station is long gone. So if I want to take a train now, I’ve got to drive to a nearby big-city, try to find a parking space, then catch a 3:20 AM train.
No thanks.
And I don’t see how fancy new trains will make any difference.

The days of trains with sleeper cars is gone here in the U.S., but still exists in Europe. If the train ticket is cheaper than the cost of a hotel room and flight, it makes sense for a traveler, although could mean sharing a compartment with strangers. Rail lines connecting to airports is under developed in the U.S., especially in the Northeast. A direct train line between JFK and Newark EWR would enable more options for connecting flights, but doesn't yet exist. At rush hour, trains don't usually get stuck in traffic absent maintenance to the rail line, and can handle baggage easier than buses.

[caddie]

Passenger rail HAS TO come back at some point, because the highways and skies are nearing full capacity.

It's feasible with tax abatement for rail companies.To go from city center to city center 300 to 500 miles apart, car almost beats plane, time wise and cost wise.

Train would beat both, and with tax abatement it could be competitive.

Obstruction to it is more political than anything else.

[mowowie]

28hrs On An Amtrak Sleeper Train In First Class! - Never Again
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_Q8IW71elM

From the comments..
“Wow. $2125 for a grubby cabin and a shower that didn’t work. That’s impressive, and not in a good way.”

[Dr. Franklin]

28hrs On An Amtrak Sleeper Train In First Class! - Never Again
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_Q8IW71elM
From the comments..
“Wow. $2125 for a grubby cabin and a shower that didn’t work. That’s impressive, and not in a good way.”

So they spent $1.6 billion for Moynihan Train Hall, but they can't build a direct line between JFK and EWR. The plumbing on trains is always hit or miss. I knew some people who took Amtrak from the Northeast to Florida and they would never do it again. It works OK in the Northeast corridor, but other than that, I wouldn't take it.