Friday Roundtable: New Train Day!

On September 30, Amtrak Airo trains will enter service (left, Amtrak) and Pinehurst station will open (right, Sound Transit).

2026 has been a big year for trains in Puget Sound. In January, the Federal Way Link Extension completed its first full month of operation. Simulated service on the 2 Line began in February, providing 4 minute frequencies for the first time between Seattle and Lynnwood. In March, the Crosslake Connection finally connected the 2 Line with Seattle. Link ridership jumped 46% in April thanks to the new service across Lake Washington. In May, the Sound Transit Board confirmed funding for several ST3 Link extensions (at the cost of other extensions). In June, Sound Transit welcomed passengers aboard new Sounder trains and set multiple Link ridership records. The USA vs Belgium World Cup match in early July helped Link surpass 300,000 passengers in one day for the first time ever. Last month, transit agencies in Snohomish, King, and Pierce counties restructured their bus networks to cement Link as the backbone for regional transportation in Puget Sound.

To add to the list, Sound Transit is opening a new Link station and Amtrak is rolling out next-generation trains in September.

Amtrak Airo

On September 30, Amtrak Cascades will welcome the first passengers aboard new Amtrak Airo trainsets. Amtrak Airo are trains built by Siemens that will soon run on many short distance Amtrak routes across the country. The first three of eight trains for the Cascades route are in Seattle and will operate on two roundtrips daily. The remaining five trainsets will enter service as they complete testing. An additional 75 Amtrak Airo trainsets will begin serving other routes around the country next year.

While the new trains will not reduce travel times or offer more daily trips, these trains can carry more passengers (over 300 seats per train), will be more reliable, and are more comfortable than the aging rolling stock currently used on Amtrak Cascades. Passengers can expect adjustable headrests, panoramic windows, enhanced lighting, and modern interiors.

Beginning September 30, Amtrak Airo trains will be used on the following Amtrak Cascades trips.

Between Seattle and Eugene:
Train 503: Seattle to Eugene at 7:10am - 1:48pm
Train 508: Eugene to Seattle at 4:30pm - 10:50pm

Between Seattle and Vancouver:
Train 516: Seattle to Vancouver, B.C. at 8:30am - 12:30pm
Train 519: Vancouver, B.C. to Seattle at 4:45pm - 9:10pm

Seattle Transit Blog will share a first look at the Amtrak Airo trains on Tuesday, including pictures and videos from a trip on the train. Until then, check out this Bluesky thread with highlights from the media tour on Saturday.

Pinehurst Station

Also on September 30, Sound Transit will begin service at Pinehurst station. Pinehurst station is the agency's first Link in-fill station and is located between Northgate and Shoreline South/148th stations. This the second piece of the ST3 measure to be completed (after Downtown Redmond Link) and will be the last Link station to open until Graham Street station in 2031. Pinehurst station is served by the new Metro Route 77 which connects the station with Bitter Lake and Lake City. 1 Line and 2 Line trains will begin stopping at Pinehurst station at 5am on September 30. The very first train to serve Pinehurst is a 2 Line train that departs Wilburton at 4:04am and arrives at Pinehurst at 5:05am.

To celebrate the new station, Sound Transit is hosting an event from 2pm-6pm on Wednesday. The event will include live music, local organizations, sponsors, food, an interactive activity with station artist Romson Bustillo, and the ST Shop merchandise booth.

This is an open thread.