Amtrak’s Cascades corridor serving Everett is slated to receive new Airo trainsets, with manufacturing for the route’s equipment expected to be completed in 2026, following a record year for ridership on the line.
This new rollout followed Amtrak’s record-breaking fiscal year 2025, as passenger rail travel reached its highest levels in the company’s history.
The first new Airo train was previewed during an event this week featuring Amtrak President Roger Harris, U.S. Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary and Amtrak Board Member Steve Bradbury, Federal Railroad Administrator David Fink, and Siemens Mobility North America CEO Tobias Bauer.
The trains are designed to replace aging equipment and expand capacity while improving reliability, accessibility, and onboard connectivity
Amtrak announced the Cascades route will be among the first in the country to deploy the Airo fleet, with eight trainsets currently in production and manufacturing scheduled for completion in 2026 as part of a nationwide modernization initiative.
The Cascades corridor connects communities in Washington and Oregon, with service between Portland, Eugene, Seattle, and Vancouver, British Columbia. The route is one of the busiest intercity passenger rail corridors in the Pacific Northwest, including multiple daily round trips linking cities in Washington with cities in Oregon. It also connects Washington with regional population centers and destinations in the Pacific Northwest.
In fiscal year 2025, Amtrak operated an average of 18 intercity trains per day on three permanent routes serving Washington, with 1,438,363 total passenger boardings and alightings. According to Amtrak’s fact sheet, service included the state-supported Amtrak Cascades and the long-distance Coast Starlight and Empire Builder routes. Amtrak trains made scheduled stops at 19 stations statewide, supported by maintenance and servicing facilities at Seattle’s King Street Yard and crew bases in Seattle and Spokane. During the year, Amtrak spent $250.1 million with Washington vendors and paid $43.6 million in wages to employees residing in the state.
Nationally, Amtrak reported more than 34.5 million riders nationwide during fiscal year 2025, marking the second consecutive year of record ridership. The company also posted $2.7 billion in ticket revenue, the highest total in its history.
“Amtrak’s operational success is not just about moving more people, it’s about moving them better,” said Amtrak President Roger Harris. “These results show what’s possible when we lead with purpose. By prioritizing reliability and the customer experience, we’re laying the foundation for the next generation of passenger rail in America.”
Amtrak has cited growth in state-supported services as a key driver behind its recent ridership gains. The Cascades corridor is operated through partnerships with the Washington and Oregon departments of transportation, providing regional connectivity for commuters, business travelers, and tourists.
National coverage of Amtrak’s fiscal year performance showed increased demand across corridor services, including routes in the Pacific Northwest, as travelers sought alternatives to highway congestion and short-haul air travel, reported Bloomberg.
“Amtrak’s growth is a preview of what’s possible when everyone is working together to help get the American people where they need to go,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “Faster trains, more affordable service, and extended routes are opening up a new era of American rail. The best is yet to come as we continue to build big, beautiful infrastructure to support this bright future of transportation.”
During fiscal year 2025, Amtrak invested approximately $5.5 billion in capital projects nationwide, including upgrades to tracks, railcars, stations and safety systems. The company said those investments are intended to improve reliability and support future service growth across corridors such as Amtrak Cascades.
The Airo rollout follows Amtrak’s introduction of its NextGen Acela trains, which entered service on the Northeast Corridor in August 2025 and carried more than 60,000 passengers in their first month.
Amtrak plans to deploy 83 Airo trainsets across routes nationwide in the coming years as part of a broader effort to modernize its network, increase capacity, and improve reliability and the overall passenger travel experience.
Amtrak operates more than 300 daily trains serving over 500 destinations across 46 states, Washington, D.C., and three Canadian provinces, with state-supported routes playing a growing role in overall ridership.
Below is a summary of key facts about the Amtrak Cascades corridor:
