Seattle just got its first nationwide look at Amtrak’s future.
Seattle – the first next generation Amtrak The Cascades Airo train arrives in Seattle on Saturday, marking the beginning of a major upgrade to passenger rail in the Pacific Northwest.
The new train is the first of eight planned for Amtrak’s Cascade Line, connecting Eugene, Oregon, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia. Officials say the trains will gradually replace aging rolling stock that has been in use for decades.
Saturday’s arrival drew rail enthusiasts, weekend travelers and transit leaders to Seattle’s King Street Station to get a glimpse of the new equipment before it goes live this fall.
“This is truly the beginning of a new era of Amtrak Cascades service,” said Jason Biggs, director of the Washington State Department of Transportation’s rail, freight and ports division.
The new Airo trains include larger panoramic windows, upgraded ADA seats, larger accessible restrooms and USB-C charging ports on every seat. Officials said the trains will also increase passenger capacity by nearly 50%, with about 300 seats per train.
Transportation officials said the upgrades come as demand for passenger rail continues to grow in the Pacific Northwest.
Kirk Fredrickson of Amtrak Cascades said the service carried about 600,000 passengers last year.
“Demand is driven by a number of different factors, including congestion on Interstate 5, congestion at airports, and the fuel prices we’re seeing now,” Fredrickson said.
The trains are part of Amtrak’s nationwide Airo fleet modernization effort. Officials said the 83 trains will eventually be deployed across the country, but the Pacific Northwest will be the first to go into service.
“This is the first place in the United States where these new train sets will be deployed, in the Pacific Northwest,” Fredrickson said, adding that the region was prioritized due to strong demand for passenger rail and the aging Cascades equipment already in service.
The trains will undergo additional testing, route familiarization and crew training in the Pacific Northwest before passengers board. The first trains are expected to start carrying passengers this fall, with the remaining trains to enter service in phases in early 2027, officials said.
Mike Bergman, a retired transportation planner and train enthusiast from Seattle, said the arrival is an important milestone for U.S. passenger rail.
“Amtrak doesn’t get new equipment very often,” Bergman said.
Marijn Oppers, who took the train from Portland to Seattle, said the experience already has advantages over driving.
“It’s more comfortable to ride Amtrak because if you’re driving, you’re constantly paying attention to the traffic around you,” Opers said. “Amtrak, you can sit back, relax, look out the window and enjoy the scenery.”
