Amtrak announced a major upgrade to its fleet, with sleek new “Amtrak Airo” trains launching in the United States in 2026

Train travel in the US is about to have a major upgrade. On Thursday, Amtrak announced Amtrak Airo, a new train fleet with more spacious interiors and upgraded amenities, set to launch in 2026, marking the largest single upgrade to its corridor fleet in the company’s 51-year history.

“We were inspired by the Moynihan Train Hall to create modern trains with world-class amenities that will transform the customer experience,” said Amtrak President Roger Harris at a press conference at the New York station, which opened in 2021 permeates the entire train from the outside to the inside and creates a uniform, contemporary appearance. Inside, the trains will enhance travel while retaining some of the popular benefits of train travel.”

Passengers will enjoy more space in the carriages as well as panoramic windows to enjoy the outdoor scenery. The “roomy seats” will also have “ergonomic touches, plenty of leg room, and plenty of room for your personal devices,” Harris said. There will be adjustable headrests, larger and sturdier tray tables, and new amenities like cup holders, tablet holders, and more table seating — that is, four facing seats sharing a center table. There will also be dedicated individual charging ports (both USB and power outlets) as well as free WiFi. The business class car offers a choice of double and single seats.

The new Amtrak Airo trains will have more table seating, larger windows, and ergonomic seats.

Courtesy of Amtrak

Onboard dining will also get a facelift with more “contemporary food service with a thoughtfully designed cafe cart,” Harris said. In addition to other self-service options, attendants will also be on site to operate them. Signposts get a cleaner look with a more easily identifiable color-coding system, while carriages feature upgraded lighting systems with high-tech customer information systems, as well as touch-free toilet controls. ADA accessibility will be improved throughout the ride experience.

While the Amtrak Airo fleet will continue to travel at speeds of up to 200 km/h like current trains, a new seamless transition between electric and diesel power will reduce journey times on certain routes. The new trains will also be more fuel efficient with 90 percent less particulate emissions when running on diesel and meet Tier 4 emissions standards in a battery-diesel hybrid configuration.