Breaking: New Amtrak Trains to Miss World Cup!

Amtrak has confirmed that its new Airo trains will not enter service in time for the 2026 men’s World Cup matches in the Pacific Northwest, meaning the route will not receive the added capacity needed during the event. Service this summer will remain constrained by the existing fleet.

Laura Mason, Amtrak’s executive vice president, stated that while testing of the new trains is progressing well, the company is unwilling to rush untested equipment into operation. Both the trains and crews need to be fully prepared. “We considered all options, but it is essential that the trains are ready and the personnel are trained—that is why we’ve been clear they won’t be available for the World Cup,” Mason explained.

According to the updated schedule, the first Airo trains are expected to begin service on the Amtrak Cascades line in late summer or early fall 2026. The new fleet for the corridor will consist of eight train sets, two new locomotives, and one spare cab car, all part of Amtrak’s nationwide rail modernization plan, with the Northwest corridor receiving priority deployment.

Passenger advocacy group “All Aboard Washington” expressed disappointment but understanding, noting that the nationwide shortage of passenger railcars has already limited Amtrak’s ability to expand summer capacity. With the added demand from World Cup travel, the strain on the system this summer is expected to be particularly acute.