Two major train upgrades arrive in the Puget Sound region this week
Amtrak Cascades launched its new Airo trainsets on September 30, introducing the first Airo passenger service in the United States. Two trainsets now operate four daily trips between Vancouver, B.C., Seattle, Portland, and Eugene, featuring ergonomic seats, upgraded WiFi, and a new cafe car. Simultaneously, Sound Transit opened Pinehurst Station in North Seattle at NE 130th and 5th Ave NE. This opening marks Sound Transit's first infill Link stop, providing a new light rail connection between the Northgate and South Shoreline stations.
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- ✓ Amtrak Airo trains began passenger service on the Cascades route on September 30.
- ✓ Two Airo trainsets currently operate four daily trips between Vancouver, B.C., Seattle, Portland, and Eugene.
- ✓ The Airo trains are the first of their kind to enter passenger service in the United States.
- ✓ Pinehurst Station opened on September 30 as Sound Transit's first infill Link stop.
What changed
Amtrak Airo trains and the Pinehurst light rail station both entered active service on September 30.
Live updates
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Amtrak Airo trains and Pinehurst light rail station debut in Puget Sound
Amtrak Cascades launched its new Airo trainsets on September 30, introducing the first Airo passenger service in the United States. Two trainsets now operate four daily trips between Vancouver, B.C., Seattle, Portland, and Eugene, featuring ergonomic seats, upgraded WiFi, and a new cafe car. Simultaneously, Sound Transit opened Pinehurst Station in North Seattle at NE 130th and 5th Ave NE. This opening marks Sound Transit's first infill Link stop, providing a new light rail connection between the Northgate and South Shoreline stations.
Why it matters
The Airo fleet will eventually replace the existing Amtrak Cascades trains to increase overall capacity. Pinehurst Station was originally scheduled to open in 2031 but arrived earlier despite ongoing legal appeals regarding neighborhood upzones.
What is confirmed
- Amtrak Airo trains began passenger service on the Cascades route on September 30.
- Two Airo trainsets currently operate four daily trips between Vancouver, B.C., Seattle, Portland, and Eugene.
- The Airo trains are the first of their kind to enter passenger service in the United States.
- Pinehurst Station opened on September 30 as Sound Transit's first infill Link stop.
- Pinehurst Station is located in North Seattle at NE 130th and 5th Ave NE.
- Airo trains feature ergonomic seats, upgraded WiFi, and a new cafe car.
What to watch next
- The arrival of additional Airo trainsets by the end of 2026
- The resolution of legal appeals regarding neighborhood upzones near Pinehurst Station
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (16)
- Oregon Public Broadcasting - OPB — Amtrak Cascades Airo trains debut Sept. 30 in the Pacific Northwest
- The Urbanist — A First Look at the New Amtrak Cascades Fleet
- The Seattle Times — Seattle gets a new light rail station, and then a long wait
- seattletransitblog.com — Friday Roundtable: New Train Day! – Seattle Transit Blog
- KING5.com — Two major train upgrades arrive in the Puget Sound region this week
- Salem Reporter — Salem to see first new Amtrak trains in decades
- media.amtrak.com — A New Era Arrives: Airo Trains Make Their Amtrak Cascades Debut
- www.theurbanist.org — New Airo Trains Start Rolling on Amtrak Cascades September 30
- seattletransitblog.com — Seattle Transit Blog – Covering Transit and Land Use in the ...
- komonews.com — Amtrak Cascades debuts new upgraded trains with panoramic ...
- lynnwoodtimes.com — Pinehurst Station opens in North Seattle, Sound Transit’s first infill stop
- www.theurbanist.org — Pinehurst Station Bursts into Action, as Upzones Trail Behind
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