New Amtrak Trains Ordered For The Cascades Route

SEATTLE — A new generation of Amtrak trains is coming to Western Washington, offering passengers more comfortable seating, better lighting, modern amenities, and panoramic views along the Cascades route between Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, B.C.

The Washington State Department of Transportation announced Thursday that eight new trainsets and two locomotives are on track to arrive by 2026. The new trains will be manufactured by Siemens in California, which also built upgraded trains for Seattle's Link light rail.

WSDOT officials said the new trains were paid for by federal infrastructure funding and a key part of a larger transformation meant to improve Amtrak rides across the nation. The new trains will have some local flair, including an evergreen and mocha color scheme and art depicting Mount Rainier and Mount Hood.

"Amtrak Cascades is eager to welcome new trains to our scenic 18-city route linking Washington, Oregon and British Columbia," said Ron Pate, director of WSDOT's Rail, Freight and Ports Division. "The branding of our new trains is unique to the Amtrak Cascades corridor, distinguishing them from others in the Amtrak fleet. Their arrival will herald a new generation of train travel in the Pacific Northwest."

WSDOT said the trains are designed to be more environmentally friendly, boosting fuel efficiency and significantly reducing pollution.

On the inside, passengers can expect several upgrades:

• Amenities: Individual outlets, USB ports, onboard Wi-Fi, enhanced lighting, digital customer information systems, automated steps and touchless restroom controls.
• Comfortable seating: Each train seats more than 300 passengers and prioritizes ergonomics, offering large and sturdy tray tables, cushioned headrests, a dedicated water bottle holder and a seatback tablet holder.
• Redesigned café car: Featuring local Northwest favorite foods including beer, wine and spirits along with some self-service food options.
• Elevated experience: With panoramic windows and additional table seating, customers can enjoy some of the best views and connect to the some of the most scenic landscapes in the world.

According to WSDOT, the Cascades route will be the first to receive the new trains, which are scheduled for delivery over several months in 2026. They will deploy after a series of inspections and tests.