Amtrak to introduce upgraded, sleek Airo train sets on Cascades route

Key Points:

• Amtrak will introduce the first two Airo Fleet train sets on the Amtrak Cascades route in the Pacific Northwest starting September 30, featuring upgraded amenities such as ergonomic seating, panoramic windows, free Wi-Fi, and increased passenger capacity with over 300 seats per trainset.
• These initial train sets will operate four daily trips, with plans to gradually replace all existing trains on the Cascades route by 2027 using a total of eight new Airo Fleet train sets.
• The new trains will run on existing schedules without service expansion, showcasing design elements inspired by the Cascade Mountains and the route’s signature evergreen, cream, and mocha colors, making Amtrak Cascades the first U.S. route to feature the Airo Fleet.
• The introduction follows a period of reduced capacity on the Cascades route since March 2025 due to corrosion issues with older Horizon rail cars, and is part of a nationwide Amtrak modernization effort initiated in 2021.
• Amtrak plans to deploy 83 new Airo train sets nationwide, with the Northeast Regional route next in line to receive the upgraded trains, which have already begun testing and are expected to launch more sets in late 2027.