First NEC-bound Amtrak Airo trainset departs manufacturer

The first Amtrak Airo trainset designated for the Northeast Regional service has departed from the manufacturing facility and is enroute to Pueblo, Colorado, for testing.

Manufactured at Siemens Mobility's Sacramento, California, facility, the Airo trainset will undergo testing in Pueblo before entering revenue service along the Northeast Corridor in 2027, Amtrak officials said in a press release.

Amtrak has commissioned a total of 83 Airo trainsets from Siemens. They will be dispersed across 14 routes. Siemens is constructing the trainsets at its Sacramento and Lexington, North Carolina, facilities. In mid-May, the first Airo trainset arrived in Seattle, where it will undergo route testing and practice runs before entering revenue service on the Amtrak Cascades route this year.

The Airo trainsets feature enhanced passenger amenities, cafe cars and more spacious interiors. Additionally, the trainsets can operate at speeds up to 125 mph on select routes, Amtrak officials said.