Amtrak’s order for 83 Airo trainsets reached a milestone this week when the first unit completed its initial testing and left the Bear Maintenance Facility in Bear, Delaware.

The trainset will now travel nearly 3,000 miles across the USA to Seattle, where it will undergo rigorous testing before customers are welcomed onboard when it enters service on Amtrak’s Cascades service.

Amtrak has ordered 83 Airo trainsets as part of an $8 billion investment to replace its ageing Amfleet, Metroliner, and state-owned trains. Built by Siemens Mobility in California, the Airo trains are bi-mode and designed to operate from overhead electric and diesel power for maximum flexibility.

The first units will be on the Cascades route later this year, and on Northeast Regional services in 2027.

A video of the first Airo train leaving the Bear Maintenance Facility can be watched here.

The Airo trainset was originally tested in Pueblo, Colorado, and after completing its scheduled testing programme there, it was taken to the Northeast Corridor for additional testing. Amtrak originally ordered 73 Airo trainsets, but due to rising passenger numbers, in 2023 the company placed an order for 10 additional units.