Amtrak introduced the first Siemens Airo trainset into revenue service on Sept. 30 when Cascades train No. 503 departed Seattle for Eugene at 7:10 a.m. Each Airo seats about 300 passengers and is intended to address post-2025 capacity shortfalls after Horizon cars were withdrawn. Initial Cascades deployment uses two daily Airo sets (Seattle–Eugene and Seattle–Vancouver); eight sets are earmarked for the service, with Northeast Regional Airo service planned for late 2027.
Amtrak Cascades Begins Airo Era: First Siemens Trainset Enters Service on Seattle–Eugene Route
Amtrak's Michael Carter hands out "first day" memorabilia before Amtrak Cascades train No. 503, the first to feature the new Airo equipment in revenue service, departs Seattle's King Street Station on Wednesday, Sept. 30. Bob Johnston
SEATTLE, Wash. — Amtrak has officially launched the Airo era for its Cascades service with the first Siemens Airo trainset entering revenue service on Sept. 30.
The inaugural departure was Amtrak Cascades train No. 503, which left Seattle for Eugene, Ore., at 7:10 a.m. and marked the first of 83 Airo trainsets Amtrak has on order to modernize its fleet.
The hat and commemorative ticket given to first-day riders. Bob Johnston
“The arrival of the new Airo fleet marks an exciting moment for Amtrak Cascades and passenger rail in the Pacific Northwest,”— Amtrak Interim President Byl Herrmann, in a press release.
The Airo trainsets seat about 300 passengers each and are intended to help relieve capacity shortfalls that followed the withdrawal of Horizon passenger cars in 2025. The new equipment retains the Cascades’ distinctive evergreen, cream and mocha livery.
“These new Amtrak Cascades trains are a game-changer for rail travel in the Pacific Northwest,”— Washington State Department of Transportation Secretary Julie Meredith, noting improved reliability, comfort and onboard amenities and Washington’s pride in being first to place the Airo into service.
First-day riders received a commemorative hat and special ticket to mark the debut. Onboard scenes from the run showed passengers gathering in the café car (many wearing Cascades hats) — and that breakfast burritos had already sold out by the time photographers documented the trip.
Passengers, many wearing their Cascades hats, line up in the café car on No. 503. By the time this photo was taken, the breakfast burritos were sold out. Bob Johnston
Initial Service Plan
Amtrak’s initial Cascades deployment uses two Airo trainsets in daily service: one set on the Seattle–Eugene corridor (trains 503 and 508) and another on the Seattle–Vancouver, B.C. corridor (trains 516 and 519). These departures are labeled with a “new train” tag on Amtrak.com and in the Amtrak mobile app.
Amtrak has allocated eight Airo trainsets for Cascades service and also ordered two new locomotives plus a spare cab car. Airo equipment is planned to enter service on the Northeast Regional in late 2027.
Cascades train No. 503 stops at Centralia, Wash., on the inaugural run for the Airo equipment. At this point, it was running eight minutes late. Bob Johnston
On its inaugural run, Cascades No. 503 made a scheduled stop in Centralia, Wash.; at that point the train was running about eight minutes late.
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