F59PHI 465

Location: Portland Union Station, Portland, OR
Operator of Vehicle: Amtrak
Date of Photo: August 2, 2007

This past Wednesday, September 30, 2026, Amtrak’s first Airo Trainset entered service on the Cascades route in the Pacific Northwest.  The Airo represents one of the largest equipment purchases by Amtrak and will be entering service across much of the United States in the coming years, replacing outdated Amfleet I and Horizon equipment that is currently in use.  One of the defining features of the Airo is that most trainsets will be able to operate on electrified and non-electrified lines without needing to change locomotives, as is currently the practice as trains enter and leave the Northeast Corridor.  This process requires a long layover of about 30 minutes to accomplish the engine swap, and trip times will be shortened when this layover is no longer needed.  The Airo also features other amenities that have been included on other recent rolling stock orders, including individual AC power outlets and USB charging points at each seat, prominently placed digital information signs, an updated cafe car with a grab and go section, water bottle filling stations, and touchless bathroom controls.  In addition, passengers who bring bicycles on board will have a dedicated space to store them that does not require the removal of the front wheel, as is currently the case on the Amfleet.

When I rode the Cascades in 2007, it was operated with Talgo VI trainsets with a non-powered control cab at one end and a diesel engine, such as the one pictured here, at the other.  Both the F59PHI locomotive and the Talgo VI have been retired.  Two newer Talgo trainsets remain in service, but the remaining Cascades trains consist of standard passenger cars from across the national Amtrak fleet alongside the first two Airo trainsets.  Airo trainsets are expected to enter service on the Northeast Corridor starting in 2027.

For more photos of Amtrak’s F59PHI diesel locomotives, please click here.