Amtrak will debut two Airo trainsets on the Cascades route Wednesday, serving Vancouver, British Columbia, Seattle, Portland and Eugene, Oregon. The first two sets each seat more than 300 passengers and will operate four daily trips.
Amtrak has eight Airo sets on order for Cascades. The 83 trainsets built in the U.S. by Siemens Mobility are expected to replace older equipment on at least 14 intercity routes; the Northeast Corridor is next in 2027. Amtrak says the trains can reach 125 mph, use less fuel and offer improved amenities. The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funded the sets.
The 467-mile Cascades route carried more than 950,000 riders in fiscal 2025. Oregon and Washington transportation departments and ticket sales fund the service, and the states contract Amtrak to operate it.
