The Amtrak Airo train manufacturing is in full swing with its assembly being started, the company announced underlining that the project is engaging 100 suppliers in 31 states which are responsible for the production and delivery of 3,500 parts, the US long-distance operator Amtrak says.
“As we build to support the soaring demand for train travel, Amtrak Airo is creating jobs even before the trains are on the tracks. The new trains will not only provide world-class accommodations on routes throughout the country but will stimulate local economies as we revolutionise the Amtrak experience,” Amtrak President Roger Harris said.
The new trains will elevate the journey with spacious interiors, panoramic windows, plenty of legroom, double and single seats, dedicated outlets, USB ports and onboard Wi-Fi.
The trains will also offer greater accessibility with onboard passenger lifts, increased accessible spaces, and enhanced audible and visual messaging that will improve the experience for all customers.
The Amtrak Airo train can operate at speeds of up to 200 km/h, are more sustainable and offer a seamless transition where time-consuming locomotive changes were previously required.
In 2021, Amtrak and Siemens Mobility signed a framework agreement to manufacture 73 state-of-the-art trains, with further options for up to 130 additional trains to meet Amtrak future demand. The new fleet will offer modern rail amenities that better serve Amtrak customers. Amtrak Airo design details were unveiled in 2022 and in August 2023 the rail operator executed a contract option for 10 additional trains, bringing the total order to 83. Production has started on the new trains at Siemens Mobility’s Sacramento, California facility, one of the largest and most sustainable of its kind, featuring solar panels that provide the majority of its power.
The first Amtrak Airo train is scheduled to enter passenger services in 2026 and when delivery is completed, the new fleet will be deployed on 14 routes including Northeast Regional (between Boston and Virginia Beach via Washington, DC), Empire Service (between New York and Niagara Falls), Downeaster (from Brunswick to Portland and Boston), Amtrak Cascades (from Vancouver, BC, to Eugene via Seattle and Portland), as well as Hartford Line (New Haven – Springfield line).
“Convenient and reliable passenger rail service is vital to the economic well-being of New York State and Amtrak’s new Amtrak Airo trains are already providing a benefit,” said New York State Department of Transport Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez.
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