Airo trains run half of Seattle–Vancouver, B.C. service from 30 September
Amtrak Cascades Airo trains will enter passenger service on 30 September, taking over two of four daily Seattle–Vancouver, B.C. trains and two of four Portland–Eugene trains.
The launch uses two trainsets on four daily trips and opens the first phase of the rollout between Vancouver, B.C., Seattle, Portland and Eugene, Oregon, Amtrak said on 17 September. More trainsets are due to join through early 2027. In time, the Airo fleet will replace the equipment the corridor uses today.
Which trains switch to Airo on 30 September
Northbound, train 516 leaves Seattle at 8:30 a.m. and reaches Vancouver, B.C. at 12:30 p.m. Train 508 departs Eugene at 4:30 p.m. and arrives in Seattle at 10:50 p.m. Southbound, train 503 runs from Seattle at 7:10 a.m. to Eugene at 1:48 p.m. Train 519 leaves Vancouver, B.C. at 4:45 p.m. and is due in Seattle at 9:10 p.m.
The Amtrak Cascades timetable lists four trains a day between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., four between Portland and Eugene and 12 between Seattle and Portland. The two Airo-operated Vancouver trains therefore represent half of that service, as do trains 503 and 508 south of Portland. On the Seattle–Portland section, Airo will operate two of the 12 daily trains.
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) data show that 20% of Amtrak Cascades riders travelled within the Vancouver, B.C.–Seattle section in 2025.
| Journey pattern | Share of 2025 riders | Airo trains from 30 September |
|---|---|---|
| Within Seattle–Portland | 58% | 2 of 12 daily trains (503, 508) |
| Within Vancouver, B.C.–Seattle | 20% | 2 of 4 daily trains (516, 519) |
| Within Portland–Eugene | 11% | 2 of 4 daily trains (503, 508) |
| Across sections between Seattle and Eugene | 6% | Trains 503 and 508 cover the full journey |
| Across sections between Vancouver, B.C. and Portland | 5% | No launch train covers the full journey |
Passengers travelling within the Vancouver, B.C.–Seattle or Portland–Eugene sections represented a combined 31% of the 916,000 Amtrak Cascades riders in 2025. The percentages describe journey patterns rather than the total number of passengers carried over each section. Shares are rounded as published by WSDOT; the 31% total and train counts are Railway Supply calculations. Trains 503 and 508 are counted in both route sections they serve.
Sources: WSDOT, Amtrak Cascades 2025 Performance Data Report, p. 10; Amtrak Cascades timetable; Amtrak, 17 September 2026.
Seats lost after the Horizon withdrawal
The new trainsets follow the capacity reduction experienced in 2025. In late March that year, Amtrak removed its Horizon railcars from service after inspections found corrosion and additional areas of concern. Amtrak Cascades was among the affected routes.
WSDOT says the Amfleet cars brought in as replacements reduced seating capacity by 20% for the rest of 2025. Ridership fell 8% that year, to 916,000. The agency links the decline to the smaller seat supply and says demand remained high. Railway Supply examined the 2025 capacity cut on Amtrak Cascades in more detail earlier this month.
Each Airo trainset offers more than 300 seats, according to Amtrak. By comparison, each of the two Talgo Series 8 trainsets owned by the Oregon Department of Transportation seats approximately 250 passengers.
Eight trainsets for the corridor
Eight Airo trainsets are on order for Amtrak Cascades, together with a spare cab car and two new locomotives. The first Cascades trainset reached Seattle in May for final testing, staff training, route testing and practice runs. Siemens Mobility builds the trains in the United States with components from nearly 100 suppliers in 31 states.
On board, passengers get free Wi-Fi, power outlets and USB ports, digital information screens, automated steps and six restrooms with touch-free controls. The Cascades sets carry an evergreen, cream and mocha livery. Airo sets for other routes will wear the red, white and blue of Amtrak’s national brand.
Amtrak Cascades is the first route to receive trains from Amtrak’s national programme of 83 Airo trainsets. The Northeast Regional is next: production of its first Airo trainset is complete and testing has begun, with passenger service planned for late 2027.
