Amtrak ordered 10 additional Airo trainsets from Siemens Mobility exercising an option under the contract signed in 2021 and in total, the operator will own a fleet of 83 Airo trains.
The first Amtrak Airo train is scheduled to debut in 2026 and these new trains will operate on routes throughout the country.
“We are thrilled to satisfy the soaring demand for train travel with new state-of-the-art, American-made equipment that ensures the highest standards of comfort, service and amenities,” Amtrak President Roger Harris said.
The trains will provide spacious and comfortable seats with dedicated power, USB-C ports, seatback tablet and phone holders. Trains’ seat cushions will be contoured, with enhanced leg room individual arm rests and adjustable headrests. The new trains are fitted with bolder and color-coded signage to identify amenities and differentiate classes of service, both on board and on the platform.
The trains are fitted for passengers with reduced mobility providing spacious and accessible restrooms, vestibules and Café cars with integrated boarding equipment for customers with reduced mobility. In addition, they feature access to ample storage space for luggage.
They are equipped with inductive hearing technology to assist with onboard announcements, 5G Wi-Fi and digital information systems.
The new Airo trainsets were ordered as demand for passenger services exceeded expectations, the US national rail operator says. The entire Airo fleet will operate on the Northeast Regional, Empire Service, Virginia Services, Keystone Service, Downeaster, Cascades, Maple Leaf, New Haven/Springfield Service, Palmetto, Carolinian, Pennsylvanian, Vermonter, Ethan Allen Express and Adirondack.
A share of Amtrak’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funding will support the procurement of Amtrak Airo trainsets, which are being manufactured in California.
Amtrak says that with this order, it has the opportunity to purchase additional trains in the future.
In 2021, Amtrak awarded Siemens Mobility a USD 3.4 billion contract to supply 73 Airo trainsets including options for up to 140 additional trains.
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