Inside the new Amtrak Cascades trains now being tested ahead of launch | Daily Hive

Amtrak Cascades' first new train on the way for initial testing, July 2025. (WSDOT | Hudson Sheats)

The first of Amtrak Cascades’ brand new generation trains has officially rolled out of the factory and is now undergoing testing, marking a major step toward a new era for interregional passenger rail travel along the Pacific Northwest’s north-south corridor.

Amtrak Cascades links Vancouver, Seattle, and Portland, serving other destinations in between and reaching as far south as Eugene, Oregon.

Years in the making, Amtrak and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) have been working to renew the aging fleet of trains used on the route, with Amtrak Cascades set to be the very first route to see the use of new trains as a part of Amtrak’s U.S.-wide fleet renewal strategy.

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Amtrak is investing US$7.3 billion in renewing its equipment, fleet, and infrastructure, including US$3.4 billion for its order from Siemens Mobility to provide 73 new Siemens Venture trains, which is also the model in use on Brightline in Florida and VIA Rail’s Quebec City-Windsor route.

Amtrak’s version of the Siemens Venture train has been given the name “Airo,” and the new trains for Amtrak Cascades are also a subvariant of the Airo model.

amtrak cascades new trains testing july 2025

Amtrak Cascades’ first new train on the way for initial testing, July 2025. (Hudson Sheats)

There is a critical need for the new trains to be used on Amtrak Cascades, which was made particularly evident in March 2025 when Amtrak was suddenly forced to pull Amtrak Cascades’ entire fleet of aging Horizon cars out of service due to newly discovered corrosion issues that posed a major safety risk. Train services along the entire route were briefly replaced by buses until a temporary replacement fleet of Amfleet I trains arrived from Chicago, which restored all trips but provided reduced capacity from the use of fewer passenger cars per train.

Eight new trainsets, two new locomotives, and a spare cab car will be delivered to the Amtrak Cascades fleet over the next year, with the first scheduled to enter service in 2026. This will be the first full renewal of the Amtrak Cascades fleet in decades.

Earlier this year, WSDOT told Daily Hive Urbanized the aim is to have at least some of the trains operational in time for Vancouver and Seattle’s roles in co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In late July 2025, the very first trainset for Amtrak Cascades and Amtrak’s overall Airo fleet program left the Siemens factory in Sacramento, California, for Pueblo, Colorado, where it will undergo initial testing. The trains will be delivered to the Pacific Northwest gradually over several months, with each unit undergoing inspection and approval before entering service.

Amtrak Cascades’ first new train on the way for initial testing, July 2025. (WSDOT)

Each new train features the Amtrak Cascades’ familiar evergreen, cream, and mocha Cascades colour scheme, now paired with modern graphics of the Cascade Range mountains across every car.

Over 300 seated passengers can be accommodated in each train.

Beyond capacity, the new fleet promises to significantly elevate the passenger experience with a mix of modern amenities and regional touches.

Bigger windows and additional table seating are designed to showcase the Northwest’s scenic landscapes, while upgraded seating offers an ergonomic design with larger tray tables, cushioned headrests, water bottle holders, and integrated tablet stands. Passengers will benefit from modern upgrades such as personal outlets, USB ports, free Wi-Fi, enhanced lighting, digital displays, automated boarding steps, and touchless restroom features.

A redesigned cafe car will serve local beers, wines, and spirits alongside Northwest-inspired food, with new self-service options for added convenience.

The trains will also feature improved environmental performance, offering greater fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.

Amtrak Cascades’ first new train on the way for initial testing, July 2025. (WSDOT)

amtrak cascades new trains factory may 2025

Amtrak Cascades’ new trains at the factory in Sacramento, May 2025. (WSDOT)

Amtrak Cascades’ first new train on the way for initial testing, July 2025. (WSDOT)

Amtrak Cascades’ new trains at the factory in Sacramento, May 2025. (WSDOT)

Amtrak Cascades’ first new train on the way for initial testing, July 2025. (WSDOT)

WSDOT previously told Daily Hive Urbanized that Pacific Central Station — the northernmost terminus of Amtrak Cascades, situated on the edge of downtown Vancouver — is in need of station platform upgrades to optimally handle the brand new fleet of trains. Such upgrades would need to be funded by Canadian governments.

Currently, during optimal conditions, the entire Amtrak Cascades train journey between Pacific Central Station and Eugene, Oregon, is about 10 hours and 30 minutes, including just over three hours for the segment between Vancouver and Seattle.

Amtrak Cascades has seen great momentum in its post-pandemic ridership growth, which saw an all-time record of 985,000 passengers in 2024 — up from 746,000 in 2023, 824,000 in 2019, and 781,000 in 2014.

Furthermore, the Vancouver-Seattle segment saw its own record ridership in 2024, with 205,000 passengers using Amtrak Cascades at Pacific Central Station — up from 161,000 in 2023 and 169,000 in 2019. Pacific Central Station is the third busiest station after King Street Station in downtown Seattle and Portland Union Station in downtown Portland.

It remains to be seen how the current Canada-U.S. political tensions since early 2025 have impacted ridership on the Vancouver-Seattle segment of the service.

The forthcoming improvements to Amtrak Cascades are deemed to be a precursor to help build up ridership demand for the possibility of building a new high-speed rail line over the long term.

Amtrak Cascades’ new trains at the factory in Sacramento, May 2025. (WSDOT)

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