Amtrak Unveils Massive Fleet Overhaul with New Airo Trains

The $8 billion modernization brings significant upgrades, and travelers weigh in on the changes.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Amtrak is rolling out a new fleet of 83 Airo passenger trains this summer, replacing rail cars that in some cases have been in service for nearly 50 years. The $8 billion order marks the largest fleet replacement since Amtrak was founded in 1971, with the new trains featuring larger windows, brighter lighting, more storage, and accessibility upgrades.

Why it matters

The overhaul comes amid record ridership for Amtrak, with 34.5 million passenger trips in 2025. The new trains are intended to modernize service across several major corridors, beginning with the Pacific Northwest, and eventually operating on East Coast routes including the busy Northeast Regional line.

The details

The first Airo trains are expected to enter service this summer on the Amtrak Cascades route, which runs between Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, and Eugene. The redesigned interiors feature larger windows, brighter lighting, overhead digital screens, power outlets, and adjustable seats that slide forward rather than recline. Accessibility upgrades include built-in motorized wheelchair lifts, wider aisles, and larger restrooms.

  • The first Airo trains will enter service this summer on the Amtrak Cascades route.
  • Testing on East Coast routes is expected to begin later this year, with passenger service projected for 2027.

The players

Amtrak

The national passenger railroad company of the United States.

Roger Harris

Amtrak President.

Siemens

The company building the new Airo trains in California.

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What they’re saying

“The thing that I was disappointed about but then sort of reassured about is the recline on the seats. We were surprised we had to argue for … overhead bin space.”

— Alan Fisher, rail and transit content creator (YouTube)

What’s next

Testing on East Coast routes is expected to begin later this year, with passenger service projected for 2027.

The takeaway

Amtrak's $8 billion fleet overhaul with the new Airo trains represents a major modernization effort to improve the passenger experience and meet growing ridership demands, though some early reviews have raised concerns about the seat design and storage space.