SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Siemens Mobility and Amtrak have unveiled a prototype of the first car for the new Amtrak Airo equipment at the builder’s Sacramento, Calif.
The Wednesday event provided the first look at the equipment to be provided in 83 fixed trainsets, the first of which is scheduled to enter service in 2026. The equipment will eventually be assigned to Northeast Regional, Empire, Keystone, New Haven-Springfield-Greenfield, and Virginia services; the Downeaster, Vermonter, Maple Leaf, Ethan Allen Express and Adirondack; Palmetto, Carolinian, and Pennsylvanian.
Amtrak selected Siemens Mobility in 2021 to manufacture new, state-of-the-art trains that comply with the Federal Railroad Administration Buy America standards. The Airo name and design details were announced last year [see “Amtrak rolls out ‘Airo’ branding …,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 15, 2022].
The new trains will feature redesigned interiors, panoramic windows, double and single seats, dedicated outlets, USB ports, and onboard Wi-Fi. The trains will also offer greater accessibility with onboard passenger lifts, increased accessible spaces, and enhanced audible and visual messaging Amtrak says will improve the experience for all customers. The new trains will operate at speeds of up to 125 mph; many of the trainsets will feature dual-mode capabilities, eliminating the need for locomotive changes currently required when entering or leaving electrified territory.
“As we build to support the soaring demand for train travel, Amtrak Airo is creating jobs even before the trains are on the tracks,” Amtrak President Roger Harris said. “The new trains will not only provide world-class accommodations on routes throughout the country but will stimulate local economies as we revolutionize the Amtrak experience.”
In a press release, Amtrak emphasized the widespread supply chain involved in the manufacturing process, which includes nearly 100 suppliers in 31 states.
“Amtrak is an integral part of the fabric of our nation,” said Michael Cahill, President of Rolling Stock for Siemens Mobility North America, “and Amtrak Airo will represent a new level of passenger experience for travelers throughout America.”
These cars are based on the Siemens Viaggio Comfort cars built originally over two decades for the Austrian ÖBB . They run as Railjets in Austria, Switzerland, Germany, the Czech Republic., etc. I have used them on several occasions, they are extremely comfortable. Their night-equipped counterparts constitute the Nighjets that are running on overnight trains in several west- and central- Europe. They appear to run very well for Brightline. So to all the armchair critics I would say, either wait and see or go to Europe to sample them. I do hope they will help revitalize many Amtrak lines.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siemens_Viaggio_Comfort
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siemens_Venture
So, this car has the full pane, factory emergency window whereas they insisted those be retrofitted with the split pane on the Midwest cars. Interesting.
As some may recall, Amtrak Airo project is the largest North American Siemens Mobility contract in history. Let us hope it rolls like it was announced.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
Siemens Mobility’s new Amtrak trains seem to be more sustainable and offer a seamless transition where time-consuming locomotive changes were previously required.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
but how can a permitted passenger train set be better than a passenger train with individual passengers cars anyway ?
Operationally? Train sets, especially on very long routes are a nightmare. From a passenger perspective the obvious advantage I guess would be sealed wide open gangways, like the Acela Express. More accessible, feels and looks safer, and better climate control overall.
These new cars have a European air and design about them. I can see the model railroad manufacturers like Kato and Bachmann manufacturing these cars in both N and HO scale within a year or so much to the delight of model railroaders like myself who model Amtrak on my layout. The should be popular sellers on the model train market
Joseph C. Markfelder
I agree.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
Bachmann has the VIA sets for an upcoming release. Personally I want a Brightline set, preferably Blue. I like to have a model of those pieces with a personal connection.
Brightline has been approached by 2 model makers that I am aware of and is not responding. Don’t expect anything soon.
Why am I not surprised?
Both Bachmann Industries and Kato Precision Railroad Models are genuinely creative and impressive model railroad manufacturers.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
Did anybody notice that “Airo Train” sounds the same as Aerotrain, the GM experimental train of 1955 that failed at everything?
Ir was a “success” at failure…
Very airy this first Amtrak Airo car!
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
Excellent, Neal.
This first car, after testing, will spawn a half-dozen built with lessons learned from running this one around to find possible weak points. Then those six will be fully tested before full scale construction begins.
Seems the Siemans’ cars/engines are doing just fine on Brightline.
In case anyone wants to see the whole process of car design and the testing and background challenges to it all, here is a link to the monthly NGEC status reports. (most months had 2) Starting in 2014 all the up to last November. The last report written ended with a note about Amtrak requesting updates to the Bi-Level car specs likely for an upcoming RFQ they were preparing. (basically a 4th generation Superliner since that is what those specs are basically for) https://www.highspeed-rail.org/Pages/Section305Committee.aspx
Scroll down to Reports and click on any month to get the reports. It’s interesting to see it coming together and then fall apart with Nippon Sharyo. Enjoy.
This is just the pilot car, and will be followed by pilot cars for business class and the cafe car likely. After a year or two of non-revenue running and testing they will make design/engineering changes and send these back to be stripped down to get those changes done while the production cars are already being delivered with the changes that were decided. Thats the standard way car builders do it. Interestingly that is not how Alstom is doing the Acela 2 trains and it’s a big issue because they now essentially have 8 train sets of pilot cars that need major revisions and changes. Amtrak gets a lot of well earned flak from the community at times, but that is entirely on Alstom for once. I just don’t buy any of their pointless arguments about infrastructure issues. When it comes to the Venture cars it’s important to remember that Amtrak (other than membership in the group) was not in charge of design decisions which all run by the NGEC for Caltrans and IDOT. Part of the delay with the San Joaquins has to do with BNSF not having full MoW crew to fulfill the agreement with the Joint Powers Authority to construct mini-high platforms at each station stop that comply with CAPUC regulations (not to mention their aversion to 48” platforms coming anywhere within 10 feet of track centerline! The other delay has is perhaps in a roundabout way Amtrak’s fault in that their deteriorating relationship with the SJJPA has led to the decision that Amtrak will operate (for now at least) but not maintain the Venture cars. They will be maintained out of the Stockton SJRRC facility that services ACE, which Herzog was given grant funds to expand capacity for that and future Valley Rail additions. I do not know the status, but I think that is not yet complete.
I think (or hope) that Amtrak is more on top of this than they have ever been, and I think this may not be the disaster a lot of the negative comments suggest it will be. Siemens has learned a lot and also accepted the limitations of the shockingly small facility south of Sacramento that punches way above its size building their catalog of rail equipment, and they are adding a NC plant that should have even greater capacity to the mix. Amtrak seems confident in them since they also announced another 10 trainsets to the order. Let’s hope they nail this order and get trains running and it generates lots of excitement and creates a mass of new riders and support for more trains! If ever there were a time to finally have it happen it is now. This isn’t blind optimism, The IIJA literally dumps more money in one bill into passenger rail that the entirety of funding since Amtrak was created combined!
The exterior looks ugly — especially with no windows at one end and the three shades of blue.
So….. they should put a nice bay window for the restroom?
I guess the midwest and west don’t exist anymore.
I hope these cars go into service faster than the San Joaquin cars Siemens delivered over 3 years ago that have yet to see any revenue service
Dream goal = in service by 2026.
Realistic goal = in service by 2036.
Prove me wrong Amtrak.
I predict that they’ll be reliable enough that Amtrak won’t regret the paint/sticker car number (1, in this case) on the doors.
Considering the 2 / 1 seating my guess is this a first class car vice car # 1.
I would say it means First Class. You’ll see the same thing in European trains and this does have a very European look. Running test cars before building a lot of others means someone learned something.
ROFL! I knew it. I should just stop reading the comments. Nothing but negative Nancys.
None of you have seen any of this in person, and yet you have STRONG OPINIONS about why it’s going to be a disaster and why everyone at Amtrak are idiots.
It’s astounding, but happens EVERY SINGLE TIME.
It’s because there seems to be a disaster EVERY SINGLE TIME and the legacy of idiocy can be documented. All that aside, good point.
I’ve not ridden the Hiwatha this year (first year I’ve not), so I really can’t say if the new Siemens train sets are in service yet. (I live west of Milwaukee, not south, so I don’t see the Hiawatha when I’m out and about.) .) Last time I rode the Hiawatha, which was Septemebr 13th of last year (2022), there were a bunch of laid-up Siemens coaches sitting under the Chicago post office, and none in service, as Amtrak hadn’t accepted them as of that day and month, thirteen months ago today. Long after the scheduled service date.
That’s wy people are negative about Siemens. That and the alleged problems with the locos, of which I myself have no direct knowledge.
The delay on Amtrak Midwest accepting the Siemens cars was due to (laughs) the lavatory plumbing did not meet Amtrak specifications. What that specification was I am not sure, but Siemens had to find a contractor and bid out a bunch of plumbing replacements, much of which required the removal of the toilets and water basins.
Now we just need to see the first Coradia gallery car from Alstom for Metra.
We’re still waiting for the CRRC commuter cars for SEPTA.
Fixed trains sets are another bird-brained idea from the college idiots that run Amtrak. This is not Europe and when a car fails and the entire train has to be taken O/S for repairs and cancellations follow , what then ??
Looks good but I’m not sure about all that exposed mechanicals underneath. Didn’t we learn anything from the Viewliner redesign that encloses everything?
The HVAC units are on the roof. Underneath are the waste tank, battery box/LVPS and air brake box. Thus far they have weathered everything South Florida could throw at them so I wouldn’t worry too much.
How long will they sit rusting to the rails after they are completed, like the Acela replacements are doing now?
“As we build to support the soaring demand for train travel…” Did I read that right?