A new Amtrak Cascades Airo train will arrive in Seattle on Saturday for testing — part of a nationwide overhaul of passenger rail service. The first of eight trains planned for the Amtrak Cascades route will arrive at King Street Station at 11:29 a.m. Amtrak plans to begin passenger service as soon as this fall. All eight modern Airo trainsets will replace the existing equipment on the line that connects Seattle, Portland and Vancouver, British Columbia.
The new trains offer significant passenger upgrades: panoramic windows 40% larger than standard, ergonomic seats with individual armrests, larger tray tables and more legroom. Each trainset seats 300 passengers and is equipped with improved accessibility features, including lifts and enhanced audio-visual announcements. Updated cafe cars will offer food and beverages from Northwest producers, including beer, wine and spirits, with an emphasis on self-service.
The Airo trains are more environmentally friendly: they use less fuel and produce 90% fewer emissions when running on diesel. Although on some Eastern routes these trains can reach speeds of up to 200 km/h, speeds in the Pacific Northwest will be lower due to track infrastructure and signaling limitations. This rollout is part of Amtrak’s program to introduce 83 modern Airo trainsets nationwide.
Based on: New Amtrak Cascades Airo train arriving in Seattle