Overview
- Amtrak publicly showcased the new Airo trains in Washington, D.C., confirming a mid-summer 2026 start on the Cascades route between Eugene and Vancouver, B.C.
- Eight six-car trainsets are assigned to Cascades, with the rest of the 83-train Siemens order bound for East Coast services, including Northeast Regional operations starting in 2027 after testing later this year.
- Each Cascades Airo will seat about 300 passengers versus up to 168 today, with Washington state officials expecting the added capacity to help push annual ridership past 1 million.
- Airo equipment is capable of 125 mph but will operate up to 79 mph on Cascades, and will add panoramic windows, redesigned seats, 5G Wi‑Fi, personal lighting, power at seats and a grab‑and‑go café.
- Amtrak says the program remains on budget and on schedule, and emphasizes accessibility upgrades such as integrated wheelchair lifts, wider corridors, 60‑inch turning space in restrooms and a $2 billion station improvement effort.