WASHINGTON – The passenger rail landscape in the United States is set to undergo a significant transformation as Amtrak prepares to introduce its Airo trains by 2026. This comprehensive overhaul of the fleet marks one of the most ambitious initiatives in the company’s history, emphasizing customer experience and service improvement across the national rail network. At a recent preview event, key figures including Amtrak President Roger Harris, Deputy Transportation Secretary and Amtrak Board Member Steve Bradbury, and Siemens Mobility CEO Tobias Bauer unveiled the first of the new Airo trains.
The Airo trains are designed with passengers’ needs in mind, offering enhanced comfort, greater reliability, and modern connectivity features. This fleet is not just a simple upgrade but the cornerstone of a broader modernization strategy aimed at expanding service capacity while ensuring a consistent and high-quality experience across various travel corridors.
The debut of the Airo trainsets will occur on the Amtrak Cascades route, which connects key cities in the Pacific Northwest, including Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, BC, and Eugene, Oregon. The manufacturing of all eight Amtrak Cascades trainsets is expected to be completed by 2026. The Northeast Regional will also benefit from this initiative, with its first Airo trainsets slated for production and testing in 2026, with revenue service anticipated to start in 2027.
The unveiling of the Airo trains follows the successful launch of the NextGen Acela service in August 2025, which quickly attracted over 60,000 customers in its initial month. Together, these modern trainsets are set to revolutionize the way Amtrak accommodates travelers, improving the overall travel experience and paving the way for future growth in the passenger rail sector.
In total, 83 Airo trainsets are planned for deployment nationwide in the coming years, forming the backbone of an upgraded Amtrak network aimed at enhancing reliability and passenger satisfaction across the country. As anticipation builds, photos and videos from the event offer a glimpse of the exciting developments in American passenger rail, signaling a promising future for rail travel in the nation.