Amtrak Airo

Amtrak Airo
The first Airo trainset heads east through East Norden, California, in July 2025.
Stock typeDiesel–electric or dual-mode push-pull train
ManufacturerSiemens Mobility
Order no.126
Family nameSiemens Charger, Siemens Venture
Constructed2023–present
OperatorAmtrak
Specifications
Car length85 ft (25.9 m)
Width10 ft 6 in (3.2 m)
Height14 ft 7 in (4.4 m)
Maximum speed
  • Electric or diesel mode: 125 mph (201 km/h)
  • Battery mode: 60 mph (97 km/h)
Weight6 cars: 1,126,529 lb (510,985 kg)
Power output
  • Electric mode: 5,700 hp (4,250 kW)
  • Diesel mode: 4,200 hp (3,100 kW)
Tractive effort
  • Starting, electric mode: 365 kN (82,000 lbf)
  • Starting, diesel mode: 290 kN (65,000 lbf)
  • Continuous, diesel mode: 275 kN (62,000 lbf) @ 16 mph (26 km/h)
Electric systems
Braking systems
Safety systemsPositive train control: ACSES II, I-ETMS
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Notes/references
Specifications:[1][2][3]

Amtrak Airo is a class of intercity, high-speed passenger trainsets being built by Siemens Mobility for Amtrak. The trainsets are based on the Siemens Charger locomotives and Siemens Venture passenger cars, and are intended to replace older equipment used on the Northeast Corridor and state-supported routes throughout the United States.[4][3]

Development

The Airo program was initiated in 2019, with Siemens selected as the manufacturer in 2021.[5][6] Amtrak initially ordered 73 trainsets in 2022, later increasing the order to 83 in 2023.[7] Funding for those 83 trainsets was provided under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.[8]: 31:59  Another 43 trainsets were ordered for state-supported services in August 2026, using up to $2.05 billion in funding from the Federal Railroad Administration's National Railroad Partnership Program, though the exact number of trainsets by type is unknown.[9][10]

In March 2025, 83 coach cars and 9 locomotives had been completed, with 23 coaches in final assembly stages. In July 2025, the first trainset was completed and sent from the Siemens plant in Florin, California to the Transportation Technology Center (TTC) near Pueblo, Colorado for testing.[11][12] In October 2025, the trainset passed testing at the TTC and was sent for additional testing on the Northeast Corridor.[13] On February 10, 2026, the first Airo trainset was unveiled at a preview event at Washington Union Station.[14]

In May 2026, the first Airo trainset, destined for the Amtrak Cascades service, began additional testing, staff training, and practice runs in the Pacific Northwest.[15] On May 28, 2026, the first catenary-diesel, dual-mode trainset for the Northeast Regional was completed.[16] Service is expected to start on the Cascades in late 2026.[17][18] Service on the Northeast Regional is expected in 2027, and on the Carolinian, Downeaster, Keystone, Palmetto, Pennsylvanian, and Vermonter in 2029. Service is expected to start in 2030 on the Adirondack, Empire Service, Ethan Allen Express, and Maple Leaf.[8]: 55:55 

Operations

Most Amtrak Airo trainsets are designed to operate on both electrified and non-electrified lines without the need to change locomotives. This is achieved through a hybrid configuration using a Siemens Charger ALC-42E diesel-electric locomotive and either an Auxiliary Power Vehicle (APV) or a battery car.[4]

The Airo trainsets will replace the Amfleet I and Horizon coaches, as well as the Talgo trainsets.[8]: 29:27  Amtrak claims safety and reliability improvements by managing operations across entire trainsets rather than on individual cars. Safety will be improved from reducing yard switching, journey times will be shortened by eliminating time-consuming locomotive changes, and reliability will be improved from synchronizing maintenance across a whole trainset rather than on individual cars. The trainsets have conventional Janney couplers on the front of the locomotive and control car,[19] but the connections between the passenger cars are fixed drawbars, therefore, permanently coupled trainsets.[20] Because of this, equipment wear from constantly coupling and decoupling individual cars will also be reduced, which is necessary with the current fleet as individual cars on a train may be on different maintenance schedules and often need to be removed and replaced.[8]: 30:28  Extensive renovations to maintenance facilities will be done so that they can handle the trainsets.[8]: 52:41 

Types

There are three types of Airo trainsets, known within Amtrak as the "B", "C", and "D" sets, with different propulsion types. Additionally, there are 3 subtypes of the "B" trainsets.[8]: 41:37 

Trainset types [8]: 41:37 
Type Power Sets (First order of 83 sets) Cars per set Seating Checked baggage Services
Business Coach Wheelchair spaces (lifts)
B1A Diesel + overhead line 26 6 49 286 9 (8) No Downeaster, Keystone Service
B1B 268 Yes Carolinian, Palmetto, Pennsylvanian
B2 32 8 430 11 (12) No Northeast Regional
C Diesel + battery 17 6 286 9 (8) No Adirondack, Empire Service, Ethan Allen Express, Maple Leaf
D Diesel 8 268 Yes Amtrak Cascades

The dual-mode B trainsets are designed to operate on both electrified and non-electrified lines without the need to change locomotives. This is achieved through a hybrid configuration that includes a diesel-electric locomotive (Siemens Charger ALC-42E), and an Auxiliary Power Vehicle (APV).[4]

The APV will be used on trains that use track with overhead lines. It is the car closest to the locomotive, and is equipped with two pantographs, an underfloor main transformer, and two powered trucks. The remainder of the car has business class seating. In electrified territory, the APV will draw power from overhead lines into the four traction motors in the APV, and, via a DC link cable, into the four traction motors in the ALC-42E locomotive. In diesel configuration, the motors in the APV are not used.[8]: 42:51  Putting the heavy transformer in the APV instead of the locomotive better spreads out the weight of the setup over two cars, in contrast to dual-mode locomotives like NJ Transit's ALP-45DP locomotives, which are very heavy and cause increased track wear.[8]: 43:44 

There will be three subclasses of the B trainsets. B1A sets will be six-cars long and will be used on the Downeaster and Keystone services. The B1B sets will also be six-cars long, but has additional baggage space in the cab car and fewer seats, and will be used on services such the Carolinian, Palmetto, and Pennsylvanian, which offer checked baggage service.[8]: 46:34  The B2 sets will be 8-cars long and used on Northeast Regional services.[8]: 47:30 

The C trainsets will have batteries installed instead of the APV's electrical equipment. These sets will be used on the Adirondack, Empire Service, Ethan Allen Express, and Maple Leaf, Amtrak's routes that access New York Penn Station via the Empire Connection tunnel that only has third rail electrification.[8]: 48:41  The initial sets, to be delivered in 2028, will be part of a pilot to determine the viability of using battery technology in the tunnel.[8]: 41:55  If the battery pilot proves unviable, later trainsets may use third rail instead of a battery.[8]: 48:41 

ALC-42E diesel locomotive in Cascades livery paired with the first Airo diesel-only trainset

The D trainsets will operate only using diesel locomotives, without an APV or batteries. The trainsets also have additional baggage space in the cab car. These 6-car sets will operate only on the Amtrak Cascades service.[8]: 41:55  As of August 2026, six trains had been delivered, three of which were paired with new ALC-42E locomotives.[20] The remaining trains which were delivered without locomotives are planned to be used with existing SC-44 locomotives.[8]: 41:55 

Configurations[8]: 46:33 
Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
B1A APV/Business Café Coach Coach Coach Coach/cab N/a N/a
B1B APV/Business Café Coach Coach Coach Coach/baggage/cab N/a N/a
B2 APV/Business Café Coach Coach Coach Coach Coach Coach/cab
C Battery/Business Café Coach Coach Coach Coach/cab N/a N/a
D Business Café Coach Coach Coach Coach/baggage/cab N/a N/a

References

  1. ↑ "Amtrak Airo" (PDF). Siemens.com. 2023.
  2. ↑ "Charger Diesel-Electric Locomotive: IDOT, Caltrans, WSDOT" (PDF). Siemens Mobility. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 24, 2016. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Venture Trainsets: Amtrak Airo" (PDF). Siemens Mobility. 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 Anderson, Kyle (October 12, 2023). "Amtrak Airo Trains". Amtrak Media. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  5. ↑ Toll, Beth (January 18, 2019). "Amtrak Seeks New Passenger Equipment for Northeast Regional and State Corridor Service". Amtrak Media. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  6. ↑ Toll, Beth (April 21, 2021). "Amtrak Announces Siemens as Preferred Bidder for New Equipment". Amtrak Media. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Amtrak exercises contract option for 10 more Airo trainsets". Trains. August 22, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Jagodzinski, Chris (November 20, 2025). Advancement at Amtrak with Acela and Airo. Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts – via YouTube.
  9. ↑ Luczak, Marybeth (August 18, 2026). "For VPRA, Millions in Federal Funding to Support Passenger Rail". Railway Age. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  10. ↑ Mathews, Cheyenne (August 14, 2026). "Amtrak Awarded Nearly $3B in USDOT Grants to Buy New Trains and Improve Service Nationwide". Amtrak Media. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  11. ↑ "News Photos: Amtrak's first Airo train readied for departure". Trains. September 9, 2025. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  12. ↑ "News photos: First Airo trainset visits Chicago on cross-country trek". Trains. October 29, 2025. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  13. ↑ Irvin, Olivia (October 22, 2025). "From Pueblo to the Northeast: Airo Fleet Moves Toward Debut". Amtrak Media. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  14. ↑ Irvin, Olivia (February 10, 2026). "Meet the New Airo Fleet". Amtrak Media. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  15. ↑ Irvin, Olivia (May 14, 2026). "Departing Bear: Amtrak's First Airo Trainset Begins its Journey West". Amtrak Media. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  16. ↑ Irvin, Olivia (May 28, 2026). "First Northeast Regional Airo Trainset Completes Manufacturing". Amtrak Media. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  17. ↑ Irvin, Olivia (May 17, 2026). "One Trainset, Three Testing Stages, and a Big Step Forward for Amtrak Cascades". Amtrak Media. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Amtrak Airo". Amtrak New Era. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  19. ↑ "New Amtrak Cascades trains – Coming soon!". Amtrak Cascades. May 2026. Retrieved July 1, 2026.
  20. 1 2 Warner, David (July 1, 2026). "Amtrak Airo Trainset Information". On Track On Line. Retrieved July 1, 2026.
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