Shinkansenfan
Member
- Joined
- 3 Aug 2009
- Messages
- 238
Amtrak has branded the new Siemens trainsets on order as "Airo."
Airo appears to be a play on the word arrow, which is the name of Amtrak's reservation system. Amtrak's first logo was dubbed by pundits as "the pointless arrow."
These trainsets are based upon the Viaggio Comfort cars--modified and adapted for use in the United States-- and were first introduced by private operator Brightline in Florida.
These trainsets will replace the almost 50 year old fleet of tubular Amfleet I cars which were introduced in the mid-1970s. They will also replace the remaining legacy Metroliner EMU cars which over the years were stripped of traction motors to operate as unpowered cab cars (driving trailers). Ex Metroliners today can be found on the Keystone services (New York City to Harrisburg).
Siemens has a healthy backlog, as they are filling orders from Brightline, the Midwest consortium of states + California, VIA, Amtrak, Washington State, and now Ontario Northland.
The Ontario Northland trainsets will be used to restart train service from Toronto to Timmons. While these cars are primarily designed to operate in day service, the Ontario Northland trainset will run an overnight service.
With a new name comes a new livery.
Business class features 2-1 seating while coach class is 2-2 seating. Unlike today's Amfleet where seats can be rotated to face direction of travel, on Amtrak's Airo half the seats will face backwards.
There will also be a cafe car.
There will be three types of trainsets ranging from diesel only, dual mode and battery hybrid. The latter two will eliminate the need for time consuming engine changes when switching from diesel to electric territory.
https://media.amtrak.com/2021/07/am...ion-investment-in-state-of-the-art-equipment/
The Midwest consortium of states + California and Washington State are separate orders with different interior fittings and external branding.
Airo appears to be a play on the word arrow, which is the name of Amtrak's reservation system. Amtrak's first logo was dubbed by pundits as "the pointless arrow."
These trainsets are based upon the Viaggio Comfort cars--modified and adapted for use in the United States-- and were first introduced by private operator Brightline in Florida.
These trainsets will replace the almost 50 year old fleet of tubular Amfleet I cars which were introduced in the mid-1970s. They will also replace the remaining legacy Metroliner EMU cars which over the years were stripped of traction motors to operate as unpowered cab cars (driving trailers). Ex Metroliners today can be found on the Keystone services (New York City to Harrisburg).
Siemens has a healthy backlog, as they are filling orders from Brightline, the Midwest consortium of states + California, VIA, Amtrak, Washington State, and now Ontario Northland.
The Ontario Northland trainsets will be used to restart train service from Toronto to Timmons. While these cars are primarily designed to operate in day service, the Ontario Northland trainset will run an overnight service.
With a new name comes a new livery.
Business class features 2-1 seating while coach class is 2-2 seating. Unlike today's Amfleet where seats can be rotated to face direction of travel, on Amtrak's Airo half the seats will face backwards.
There will also be a cafe car.
There will be three types of trainsets ranging from diesel only, dual mode and battery hybrid. The latter two will eliminate the need for time consuming engine changes when switching from diesel to electric territory.
https://media.amtrak.com/2021/07/am...ion-investment-in-state-of-the-art-equipment/
The Midwest consortium of states + California and Washington State are separate orders with different interior fittings and external branding.
