First Amtrak Cascades trainset arrives in Seattle for testing

The first new Amtrak Cascades trainset has arrived in Seattle for final testing before it enters service along the Cascades route.

The trainset is the first of eight planned deliveries for the Cascades route, which runs from Vancouver, British Columbia, through the states of Washington and Oregon. The new trainsets are slated to enter service later this year, Amtrak officials said in a press release.

The Cascades trains are part of Amtrak's larger nationwide fleet renewal program, which consists of 83 new Airo trainsets for use in routes across the country, Amtrak officials said. Siemens Mobility is manufacturing the Airo trainsets at its plant in Sacramento, California. 

Before arriving in Seattle, the Cascades trainset was first tested on in Pueblo, Colorado, where teams validated core systems. The trainset then traveled to the Northeast Corridor for testing on active track. Finally, the trainset will undergo final testing and practice route runs in Seattle.