Amtrak's new Airo trainsets are scheduled to debut in 2026, beginning service on the Amtrak Cascades route connecting Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. The first eight trainsets will launch later this year, replacing the Talgo Series 8 trains on the corridor that runs from Eugene, Oregon, to Vancouver, Canada.
The Airo trains feature several modern amenities, including digital screens displaying speed, stops, and connections, automated boarding steps for improved accessibility at mixed-height platforms, and touchless restroom controls. Amtrak claims the trains are more fuel-efficient and produce significantly less air pollution than their predecessors.
Passengers can expect seat power, Wi-Fi, panoramic windows, and an onboard café, similar to the Talgo Series 8. The Airo has a top speed of 125 mph, but due to track restrictions and freight traffic, the fastest operating speed on the Cascades route remains 79 mph.
Amtrak described the Airo as part of its “bold transformation in passenger rail,” while Ron Pate, Director of Washington State Department of Transportation’s Rail, Freight and Ports Division, said: “Amtrak Cascades is eager to welcome new trains to our scenic 18-city route linking Washington, Oregon and British Columbia. Their arrival will herald a new generation of train travel in the Pacific Northwest.”
A total of 83 Airo trainsets will be rolled out across the US, starting with Amtrak Cascades, followed by the Northeast Regional and other key routes. The introduction follows the rollout of Amtrak’s 160 mph tilting Acela trains on the Northeast Corridor.
