Amtrak Presents First Airo Trainset in Fleet Renewal Programme

Amtrak has presented the first train in its new Airo fleet, marking the next stage in a multi-year programme to replace and expand passenger rolling stock across several US rail corridors.

At a preview event in Washington, the train was presented by Amtrak President Roger Harris, US Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary and Amtrak Board Member Steve Bradbury, Federal Railroad Administration Administrator David Fink, and Siemens Mobility CEO Tobias Bauer.

The Airo trains are being introduced as part of a broader fleet renewal effort scheduled to continue through the late 2020s. Amtrak says the programme is intended to increase available capacity, update onboard systems and standardise equipment used on multiple routes.

The Airo trainsets include redesigned interiors, upgraded seating, improved accessibility features and onboard connectivity systems. The trains are also built with new propulsion technology intended to support operations across both electrified and non-electrified track.

The first Airo sets are planned for use on the Amtrak Cascades service in the Pacific Northwest, which operates between Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, British Columbia, and Eugene, Oregon. Amtrak expects manufacturing of all eight Cascades trainsets to be completed during 2026.

Production is also underway for Airo trainsets assigned to the Northeast Regional route. These units are due to finish manufacturing in 2026 before entering a testing phase. Amtrak currently expects them to begin carrying passengers in 2027, subject to certification and route approval.

The Airo rollout follows the introduction of the NextGen Acela trains on the Northeast Corridor, which began operating in August 2025. Amtrak reports that more than 60,000 passengers travelled on the new Acela equipment during its first month in service.

In total, 83 Airo trainsets are planned for deployment across Amtrak’s network over the coming years. The operator states that the trains will be assigned to several state-supported and intercity routes as older equipment is retired.

Tags