Airo - Amfleet I replacement Siemens Inter City Trainsets (ICT) (2021 - 1Q 2024)

[joelkfla]

New Amtrak Cascades trains in 2026 Cascades version.

Looks like there'll be a human manning the cafe, but will there be tables?

 

[rickycourtney]

Overall, I say so far so good. The only hesitation I have is the seats. It doesn’t seem wise to shrink the coach seat that much, unless it’s an ADA mandate. Even though these are going to be “short” haul equipment, some of the state supported services, and for that matter, the NEC, that these will serve carry many passengers for many hours at a time, and the Amfleet seats, width aside, also look far more comfortable for that kind of duration.

I think it is an ADA mandate. The aisle is now wide enough for a wheelchair rider to pass through cars. That's a good thing.

Seen from a global perspective: new seats look appropiate for short haul equipment. We've just been spoiled by the long-haul seats that Amtrak uses on the Amfleet.

 

[TheMalahat]

Nowhere on the first page of google searches was Amtrak's Airo.

I wasn't loving the name when I first saw it, I'm liking it even less now. Acela's unique, Airo ain't.

I mean in fairness you Googled Amtrak brand that hadn't even been announced officially at the time you posted. A bit of a self fulfilling prophecy there.

In any event, I think the name is catchy, and I think the comparison to Acela is erred. Airo is a type of equipment, not the name of the train service. Acela is kind-of both. Airo = Superliner. I also think the brand juxtaposition isn't problematic, I don't think any of our friends will be left wondering if we were talking about our recent Amtrak experience, or a vape.

 

[jis]

I mean in fairness you Googled Amtrak brand that hadn't even been announced officially at the time you posted. A bit of a self fulfilling prophecy there.

In any event, I think the name is catchy, and I think the comparison to Acela is erred. Airo is a type of equipment, not the name of the train service. Acela is kind-of both. Airo = Superliner. I also think the brand juxtaposition isn't problematic, I don't think any of our friends will be left wondering if we were talking about our recent Amtrak experience, or a vape.

Airo is actually the entire trainset, not just the car, as far as I can tell So Aero = Railjet.

 

[TheMalahat]

Airo is actually the entire trainset, not just the car, as far as I can tell So Aero = Railjet.

Fair enough. But my point stands, it's not gonna be an advertisement for "ride the Airo", it'll be ride the (insert train name or corridor here), maybe with a note it's on their Swaggy new Airo equipment.

 

[Free Jaffa]

Well it seems the Airo-set rolling stock is the reason We cant keep our ACS’s.
It stinks we can’t have nice things.
I hope CT, Pennsylvania or Virginia step up.

 

[Caesar La Rock]

Amtrak uploaded this on Youtube. Guess its official.

 

[jiml]

They hired the naming consultants that turned Marriott into Bonvoy.

 

[frequentflyer]

They look quite nice, shame none will be pulled by a repainted ACS-64.

Why? Amtrak is trying to get away from tedious and time consuming engine swaps. The Sprinters will be resold to commuter lines along the NEC. Or maybe elsewhere in the world, its a better built Euro Sprinter /Vectron.

Seems like from the renderings that the Midwest Ventures are the plainest and have the worst seats out of the bunch.

If I am the midwest states I am thinking why do our sets (well not really till the cab and cafe cars are delivered) look so blah.

The Midwest cars remind me of American Eagle airline's former livery.

 

[PVD]

Perhaps Amtrak just made better decisions on what the interiors should be. They didn't pick the seats or make the final choice on livery for the state owned fleet.

 

[MisterUptempo]

Perhaps Amtrak just made better decisions on what the interiors should be. They didn't pick the seats or make the final choice on livery for the state owned fleet.

I'd also be curious what an Airo coach or BC car costs as opposed to the Midwest versions. The Midwest/Caltrans only had so much cash to work with. It could be that Caltrans/IDOT just weren't very good at design or perhaps they did the best with what they had available.

I also noticed that the slick renderings neglected to show us the power end of the trainsets. Still hammering that out, maybe?

 

[PVD]

I'd also be curious what an Airo coach or BC car costs as opposed to the Midwest versions. The Midwest/Caltrans only had so much cash to work with. It could be that Caltrans/IDOT just weren't very good at design or perhaps they did the best with what they had available.

I also noticed that the slick renderings neglected to show us the power end of the trainsets. Still hammering that out, maybe?

There was also a time pressure involving the Federal funding for the Midwest purchase, and they were in a bad place with the Nippon Sharyu "default"

 

[jis]

https://thepointsguy.com/news/amtra...Uot7Yrx0jiPriJ7nUuYLmf-mASUYg&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

 

[Cal]

They look really good, here's some notes:
-The aisle in the standard economy section looks much more narrow than the ones in the midwest Venture cars
-They seem to be going with a slightly different layout than the midwest cars
-The finishing touches like the wall texture and seat design are nice, I think it's atmosphere is better and less bland than the midwest cars
-No real difference between standard and business class seats except the 2-1 layout. Missed opportunity in my opinion
-Seat assignment system is installed
-Love the cafe design
-Not really loving the cascade's livery, I think the current one is much better
-The blue livery is cool, not the most innovative but solid

I'm really glad that Amtrak did not go with the same design as the midwest (are there any pictures of the business class or cafe car layout of those?). The midwest coach cars are definitely inferior to these. However, that will probably nix the possibility of uniform business across the network. Also, the California ventures livery definitely looks lame in comparison.

 

[jis]

The official Amtrak Media page is back...

https://www.amtrak.com/amtrak-airo?intcmp=wsp_hp-card_link++_amtrak-airo_hpcard1

 

[MARC Rider]

https://thepointsguy.com/news/amtra...Uot7Yrx0jiPriJ7nUuYLmf-mASUYg&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

Here's a quote from the article:

One new detail especially worth highlighting: Panoramic windows allow passengers to "enjoy some of the most beautiful scenery in the country," explained Harris.

Oh yeah, some really great scenery, like the passage through West Baltimore, North Philadelphia, the notorious curve at Frankford Junction. Not to mention some really great views of the backside of the Bronx between the Hell Gate Bridge and New Rochelle.

 

[jis]

Here's a quote from the article:



Oh yeah, some really great scenery, like the passage through West Baltimore, North Philadelphia, the notorious curve at Frankford Junction. Not to mention some really great views of the backside of the Bronx between the Hell Gate Bridge and New Rochelle.

I was thinking more of the view from the Hell Gate Bridge and Susquehanna Bridge, and along the New England Shore, and along the Hudson and such. I guess different people focus on different things

 

[joelkfla]

Here's a quote from the article:



Oh yeah, some really great scenery, like the passage through West Baltimore, North Philadelphia, the notorious curve at Frankford Junction. Not to mention some really great views of the backside of the Bronx between the Hell Gate Bridge and New Rochelle.

The Manhattan skyline from Hell Gate, the Hudson River, and the Connecticut coast.

 

[MARC Rider]

I was thinking more of the view from the Hell Gate Bridge and Susquehanna Bridge, and along the New England Shore, and along the Hudson and such. I guess different people focus on different things

Don't forget the SEPTA car barn at Elmwood Ave and Island Ave. in SW Philadelphia before you get to 30th St. There's usually some of the PCC cars parked there in addition to the typical Kawasaki cars that SEPTA uses.

There's also a great view of the Philadelphia skyline as you cross the Schuylkill River at Girard Av.

 

[Asher]

Nice look, no complaints here

 

[railiner]

They look really good, here's some notes:
-The aisle in the standard economy section looks much more narrow than the ones in the midwest Venture cars
-They seem to be going with a slightly different layout than the midwest cars
-The finishing touches like the wall texture and seat design are nice, I think it's atmosphere is better and less bland than the midwest cars
-No real difference between standard and business class seats except the 2-1 layout. Missed opportunity in my opinion
-Seat assignment system is installed
-Love the cafe design
-Not really loving the cascade's livery, I think the current one is much better
-The blue livery is cool, not the most innovative but solid

I'm really glad that Amtrak did not go with the same design as the midwest (are there any pictures of the business class or cafe car layout of those?). The midwest coach cars are definitely inferior to these. However, that will probably nix the possibility of uniform business across the network. Also, the California ventures livery definitely looks lame in comparison.

Call me old-fashioned (I am!), but I prefer the look of classic Budd corrugated and fluted stainless steel, with art deco style black lettering, as in the original CZ, over any of these new liveries…

 

[Exvalley]

-Seat assignment system is installed

Do you mean like on the British railroads where there is an LED indicator to tell you if a seat is available?

 

[jis]

Do you mean like on the British railroads where there is an LED indicator to tell you if a seat is available?

Acelas also came equipped with those but it has been seldom used, if ever. They could not even get assigned seat reservation working until very recently. There was pushback from executives, passengers, train crew and possibly even the IT department. Is it going to be different this time around? We'll see......

 

[rickycourtney]

-No real difference between standard and business class seats except the 2-1 layout. Missed opportunity in my opinion

The armrests are wider providing more space between passengers. It's hard to tell, but the seats may be wider with a longer pitch too. But yes, not a huge difference.

Here's a wild thought -- maybe Amtrak can improve the soft BC product to improve the value proposition. Do like the Pacific Surliner and offer a snack box and a free alcoholic beverage.

 

[Exvalley]

Acelas also came equipped with those but it has been seldom used, if ever. They could not even get assigned seat reservation working until very recently. There was pushback from executives, passengers, train crew and possibly even the IT department. Is it going to be different this time around? We'll see......

But does the Airo come equipped with this technology? I might have missed it, but I do not see any indicators in the photos.