First Trainset Enters Service as Part of Amtrak’s Largest Ever Fleet Modernization Program
SEATTLE, WA – STV today celebrated the first Airo trainset entering revenue service on the Amtrak Cascades route, marking the beginning of passenger operations for Amtrak’s new 83-train fleet modernization program. As the largest train order in the company’s history, this marks a major milestone in Amtrak’s $8 billion investment into new trains and maintenance facilities across more than a dozen routes. The new trains will serve the Pacific Northwest corridor connecting Eugene and Portland, Oregon, with Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia.
STV is providing program management and engineering support throughout the procurement of the 83 new trainsets, including technical design reviews, specification compliance assessments, manufacturing oversight, testing support and on-site inspections. The new trainsets are designed to replace railcars that have been in service and introduce a range of upgraded passenger amenities, including larger, panoramic windows, 5G Wi-Fi, USB charging outlets, touchless restrooms and enhanced accessibility features.
“The launch demonstrates what’s possible when vehicle engineering, manufacturing and operations remain aligned from concept through passenger service,” said Thomas Janssen, senior engineering operations manager at STV. “Travelers in the Pacific Northwest will see the benefits of how modern vehicle technology can deliver a better rider experience while creating a platform for next-generation efficiency, reliability and network growth.”
The Cascades deployment represents the first step in the broader rollout of the Airo fleet across Amtrak’s national network. Over the coming years, additional trainsets will serve routes in the Northeast Corridor and other state-supported passenger rail services, making the Pacific Northwest launch a significant early milestone in one of the nation’s largest passenger rail fleet modernization initiatives.
STV has supported Amtrak on several transformative programs, including procurement of 125 diesel-electric locomotives, design upgrades at Ivy City Yard in Washington, D.C.; project management and construction management (PM/CM) services for the Sawtooth Bridges Replacement project in Newark, New Jersey; and vehicle procurement for Metro-North for the nation’s first battery-electric passenger rail vehicles in New York City.
The firm has a strong local presence in the Pacific Northwest, including collaborating closely with Sound Transit, TriMet and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). STV’s signature projects in the region include the Tilikum Crossing; Burnside Bridge; Sound Transit’s Northgate Link, East Link and Lynnwood Link extensions; and Cascadia Ultra-High-Speed Rail.
