The first trainset in Amtrak’s new Airo fleet has entered passenger service in the Pacific Northwest, advancing an 83-trainset modernization program supported by engineering and program management services from STV.
The initial Airo trainset is now operating on the Amtrak Cascades route, which links Eugene and Portland, Oregon, with Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia. The deployment begins the broader introduction of the new fleet across Amtrak’s passenger rail network.
The Airo trains are intended to replace older railcars while adding updated passenger features. The equipment includes larger panoramic windows, 5G Wi-Fi, USB charging outlets, touchless restrooms and accessibility improvements.
The fleet modernization is part of Amtrak’s planned $8 billion investment in new trains and maintenance facilities serving more than a dozen routes.
STV has supported the procurement process through technical design reviews, specification compliance assessments, manufacturing oversight, testing support and on-site inspections. The work extends across the development and production stages of the new trainsets.
The company has also provided services on other Amtrak programs, including procurement of 125 diesel-electric locomotives, improvements at Ivy City Yard in Washington, D.C., and project and construction management services for the Sawtooth Bridges Replacement project in Newark, New Jersey.
STV also has experience with passenger rail vehicle procurement through its work supporting Metro-North on battery-electric passenger rail vehicles in New York City.
The Cascades deployment is the first operational step in the wider Airo rollout. Additional trainsets are expected to enter service on the Northeast Corridor and other state-supported passenger rail routes over the coming years.
For infrastructure and transportation stakeholders, the program illustrates the range of engineering, manufacturing oversight, testing and facility requirements involved in deploying a large passenger rail fleet. STV’s role connects vehicle procurement activities with technical compliance and field inspection requirements as the fleet moves into revenue service.
STV maintains a Pacific Northwest presence through work with transportation agencies and transit providers including Sound Transit, TriMet and the Washington State Department of Transportation. Regional projects include Tilikum Crossing, the Burnside Bridge rehabilitation and multiple Sound Transit Link extensions.
Source: STV.
