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Americans are one step closer to having modern, European-inspired trainsets on one of Amtrak’s most scenic routes.
The first Airo trainset arrived in Seattle this week for the final phase of testing on the Amtrak Cascades tracks, which runs from Vancouver through Washington and Oregon. It’s the first of eight trainsets that Amtrak plans to roll out along the route by the end of 2026.
The new trains will feature modern amenities, upgraded dining options and, perhaps most importantly, even bigger windows for taking in the views of some of the most dramatic scenery in the country. Here’s what travelers need to know about the new Airo trains before they welcome the first passengers on board later this year.
What to expect on board
Airo’s sleek coach cars feature upgraded, ergonomic seats with plenty of legroom, USB charging ports, sturdier tray tables, seatback tablet stands, and cupholders. “It’s a more open experience. It’s better lit. It’s newer materials,” Derek Maier, senior director of Amtrak’s Airo program, told the New York Times.
They’ll also have more capacity on board, Amtrak says. The new Airo trains will seat around 300 passengers, roughly 50% more than the current aging equipment on the line. That should help with growing ridership. More than 950,000 people traveled on the Cascades service in 2025, a 1.4% increase over the previous year.
There’s also an upgraded business class with both single and double seats, and an updated cafe car that will provide “more contemporary” and self-service food options.
The trainsets were built domestically by Siemens, the same manufacturer as Amtrak’s new Acela trains, which debuted in the Northeast in 2025.
Prior to Seattle, the trains were first tested in Colorado on a dedicated test track, Amtrak says, and then on active tracks in the Northeast Corridor. They even stopped in Washington, DC for a photo op before heading west for this final phase of testing. Now, Amtrak will be training staff and doing practice runs along the route they’ll actually serve.
Which Amtrak routes will have the new Airo trains?
In total, 83 trainsets are on order for use across the Amtrak network, the first eight of which are set to be delivered for use on the Cascades by the end of 2026.
There are currently seven roundtrips per day along the Cascades corridor, which roughly follows Interstate 5: All but one run between the main cities of Portland and Seattle—a 3.5-hour trip—with two extending south to Eugene, Oregon and two going north to Vancouver. In 2025, the trains were on time 67% of the time.
