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Amtrak passengers can soon anticipate a faster, more luxurious travel experience.
The renowned rail service has unveiled the first glimpse of its forthcoming Airo fleet, showcasing a cutting-edge upgrade that promises to redefine train travel with speeds reaching up to 125 miles per hour.
Marketed as a “modern passenger experience,” the Amtrak Airo introduces a new generation of trains prioritizing safety, passenger comfort, reliability, and environmental sustainability.
Amtrak plans to launch 83 of these state-of-the-art trains, which will replace the aging cars that have been in service for over half a century.
The innovative Airo trains are designed to achieve speeds of up to 125 mph and feature a dual-power system, enabling seamless transitions between electric and diesel propulsion.
The dual-power system will also speed things up as it will call for fewer engine changes, resulting in reduced downtime for those traveling out of New York City’s Moynihan Train Hall.
For travelers who hope to prioritize sustainability, the trains are more fuel efficient and produce 90% less particulate emissions while running on diesel compared to the older trains, Amtrak noted.
Aside from speed, the interior and amenity upgrades will certainly catch the eye of those everyday commuters.
Passenger amenities on the new trains will include modern comfort seating, spacious restaurants, a contemporary food service experience and more.
Cabins will have the feel of a lounge rather than a typical train car and will feature ergonomic seats with cup and tablet holders, moveable headrests, bigger and sturdier tray tables, individual reading lights, 5G Wi-Fi and plenty of USB-C ports.
Customers will also be surrounded by massive panoramic windows, giving views of the Hudson Valley and “the best sights in the country while connecting to the passing landscape.”
The redesigned Cafe Car features self-service options and a contemporary design that looks like a NYC bistro.
New trains will also have improved accessibility with accessible restrooms and vestibules, accessible cafe cars and wheelchair lifts.
The massive upgrade will be hugely beneficial to those who prefer a train to air travel or driving.
The fleet was debuted at a special preview event out west, and the first of the new trains will enter service in the Pacific Northwest this summer, heading to the Cascades route first, serving the Pacific Northwest corridor between Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, BC, and Eugene, Oregon.
While Northeast passengers won’t get to ride them as quickly, the countdown has begun for their arrival in 2027.
In addition to the Northeast Regional, the new trains will operate on other routes, including the Empire Service, Virginia Services, Keystone Service, Downeaster, Amtrak Cascades, Maple Leaf, New Haven/Springfield Service, Palmetto, Carolinian, Pennsylvanian, Vermonter, Ethan Allen Express and Adirondack.
The Airo fleet is expected to hit the Northeast Regional and Empire Service tracks for testing later in 2026.
Airo comes after last year’s successful rollout of NextGen Acela, which entered service on the Northeast Corridor in August 2025.
“Together, these new trainsets signal a fundamental shift in how Amtrak serves customers – reshaping the travel experience today while laying the foundation for long-term growth,” Amtrak said.
Amtrak Airo serves regional and state routes with more stops, replacing older Northeast Regional and state-supported trains, like Cascades.
Meanwhile, Acela focuses on premium high-speed Northeast Corridor service with fewer stops between major cities at 160 mph.