Amtrak Airo

Amtrak Airo is a new class of intercity, high-speed passenger trainsets being built by Siemens Mobility for Amtrak. The trainsets are based on the Siemens Charger ALC-42E 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.^[1]

Stock typeDiesel-electric push-pull train

ManufacturerSiemens

Order no.83

Family nameSiemens Charger, Siemens Venture

Quick facts Stock type, Manufacturer ...

Amtrak Airo
The first Airo trainset heads east through East Norden, California, in July 2025.
Stock type	Diesel-electric push-pull train
Manufacturer	Siemens
Order no.	83
Family name	Siemens Charger, Siemens Venture
Constructed	2023-now
Entered service	Late 2026
Fleet numbers	Locomotives: 70001-70086 Passenger cars: 71000-79000
Operator	Amtrak
Specifications
Car length	85 ft (25.9 m)
Width	10 ft 6 in (3.2 m)
Height	14.6 ft (4.44 m)
Maximum speed	Diesel/electric mode: 125 mph (201 km/h) Battery mode: 60 mph (100 km/h)
Weight	1,126,529 lbs (510,985 kg)
Power output	Max: 5,700 hp / 4,250 kW
Tractive effort	Max: 82,000 lbs. / 365 kN
Seating	Coach class: 286 (6 cars) / 430 (8 cars) Business class: 49 Wheelchair lifts: 8 (6 cars) / 12 (8 cars) Wheelchair spaces: 9 (6 cars) / 11(8 cars)
Track gauge	1435 mm

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Development

The Airo program was initiated in 2019, with Siemens selected as the manufacturer in 2021.^[2]^[3] Amtrak initially ordered 73 trainsets in 2022, later increasing the order to 83 in 2023.^[4] Funding for the trainsets was provided under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.^[5]

In March 2025, 83 coach cars and 9 locomotives have been completed, with 23 coaches in final assembly stages. In July 2025, the first trainset was completed and sent to Pueblo,CO for testing.^[6]^[7] In October 2025, the trainset passed testing in Pueblo and underwent additional testing on the Northeast Corridor.^[8] On February 10, 2026, the first Airo trainset was unveiled at a preview event at Washington Union Station.^[9]

In May 2026, the first (diesel-only) Airo trainset, designed for Amtrak Cascades, began additional testing, staff training, and practice runs in Seattle, WA.^[10] On May 28, 2026, the first catenary-diesel, dual-power trainset for the Northeast Regional was completed.^[11] Service is expected to start on the Cascades in late 2026.^[12]^[13] 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.^[14]

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.^[15]

The Airo trainsets will replace the Amfleet I and Horizon coaches, as well as the Talgo trainsets.^[16] 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 and also between the locomotive and the APV,^[17] but the connections between the passenger cars are fixed drawbars, therefore, permanently coupled trainsets.^[18] 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.^[19] Extensive renovations to maintenance facilities will be done so that they can handle the trainsets.^[20]

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.^[21]

More information Type, Motive power ...

Trainset types ^[21]^[22]^[23]
Type		Motive power	Number of sets	Number of Cars	Seating			Services
Type		Motive power	Number of sets	Number of Cars	Business	Coach	Wheelchair spaces (lifts)	Services
B	B1A	Diesel + catenary	26	6	49	286	9 (8)	Downeaster, Keystone Service
	B1B		26	6		268	9 (8)	Pennsylvanian, Carolinian, Palmetto
	B2		32	8		430	11 (12)	Northeast Regional
C		Diesel + battery	17	6		286	9 (8)	Empire Service, Ethan Allen Express, Maple Leaf, Adirondack
D		Diesel-only	8	6		268	9 (8)	Amtrak Cascades

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Dual-mode diesel/catenary trainsets

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).^[24]

The APV will be used on trains that use track with overhead lines (catenary). It is the car closest to the locomotive, and is equipped with two pantographs, an underfloor main transformer, and two powered trucks. 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 APV motors are not used.^[25] Putting the heavy transformer in the APV car 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.^[26]

There will be three subclasses of the B trainsets, referred to by Amtrak as the B1A, B1B, and B2 sets. 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 Pennsylvanian, Carolinian, and Palmetto, which offer checked baggage service.^[27] The B2 sets will be 8-cars long and used on Northeast Regional services.^[28]