Passengers riding the Amtrak Cascades through Bellingham are about to travel in much newer equipment. Amtrak has announced that two Airo trainsets will enter passenger service on the Cascades route beginning Wednesday, September 30, making the Amtrak Cascades the first route in the nation to receive the new fleet.
The Bellingham station, located at 401 Harris Avenue near the waterfront, is served by four daily Cascades trains. Northbound trains 516 and 518 and southbound trains 517 and 519 all stop in Bellingham. With the September 30 launch, at least some of those trips will begin operating with Airo equipment, with more trainsets phasing in through early 2027 as additional sets enter service.
What Is the Airo Trainset
The Airo is a new generation of passenger rail equipment manufactured by Siemens Mobility in the United States, using components sourced from more than 100 suppliers across 31 states. Amtrak ordered eight Airo trainsets, two locomotives, and one spare cab car for the Cascades route.
Each Airo trainset seats more than 300 passengers, a significant capacity increase over the Amfleet I and II and Horizon railcars that have served the Cascades route for decades. Those older cars seat between 50 and 80 passengers each, and a typical Cascades train runs six to eight cars, meaning total capacity per train has historically topped out well below the Airo's combined seating.
The interior differences are notable. The Airo features adjustable headrests, larger windows, improved lighting, better Wi-Fi connectivity, more power outlets and USB ports, and digital customer information displays. The trainset has six restrooms with touchless controls and automated steps for boarding. Food and beverage service will continue on board.
One change passengers may notice is the seating geometry. Airo seats are approximately 1.5 inches narrower than the older equipment, and they use a different recline mechanism. Rather than tilting the seat back into the space of the person behind, the Airo seat slides the seat bottom forward while the back tilts slightly. The approach is designed to reduce the impact of reclining on fellow passengers. The seats use slimline ergonomic polyurethane padding rather than foam.
The trainsets are also semi-permanently coupled, meaning the cars are connected with sealed gangways that reduce noise and drafts from outside air when moving between cars. Older Amfleet and Horizon cars have open gangways that let in significant wind and sound.
Why the Old Fleet Is Being Replaced
The Cascades route has been operating with reduced equipment since March 2025, when Amtrak removed 26 cars from service nationally following inspections that revealed corrosion and other structural concerns in older railcar fleets. That reduction affected service frequencies and capacity on the Cascades corridor, which runs between Eugene, Oregon and Vancouver, British Columbia with stops including Portland, Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, Mount Vernon, and Bellingham.
The Airo trainsets are intended to restore and eventually expand capacity on the route. Amtrak's September 30 schedule for the Cascades includes four daily trips through Bellingham: northbound Train 516 departing Seattle around 8:30 a.m. and arriving in Vancouver, BC around 12:30 p.m.; northbound Train 508 departing Eugene around 4:30 p.m. and arriving in Seattle around 10:50 p.m.; southbound Train 503 departing Seattle around 7:10 a.m. and arriving in Eugene around 1:50 p.m.; and southbound Train 519 departing Vancouver, BC around 4:45 p.m. and arriving in Seattle around 9:10 p.m.
What It Means for Bellingham Travelers
For Bellingham residents who use the Cascades corridor for trips to Seattle, Vancouver, or points in between, the Airo launch represents the most significant equipment upgrade on this route in a generation. The Harris Avenue station is within walking distance of the waterfront and a short ride from downtown Bellingham, and the Cascades service has long been a popular option for car-free travel to Seattle and Portland.
The Cascades route is operated under a partnership between Amtrak and the Washington State Department of Transportation, with state funding helping support service levels that federal Amtrak funding alone would not sustain. The arrival of new equipment reflects years of planning and investment by both Amtrak and the state. According to Amtrak, the next planned Airo deployment after the Cascades launch will be on northeast regional routes in late 2027.
Passengers can check the updated September 30 schedule and book tickets through the Amtrak Cascades booking page. For Bellingham residents interested in transit and transportation news, earlier local reporting has tracked related developments including the return of Uber to Bellingham International Airport and the ongoing Lummi Island ferry replacement project. The Airo debut is a tangible improvement for anyone who rides the rails through Whatcom County, and full rollout of the new fleet is expected to be complete by early 2027. For more local transit context, check out past coverage of transportation disruptions and updates in Whatcom County.
