The arrival of Amtrak’s new Seattle maintenance facility is right on time, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 23 for a new $250 million maintenance facility designed to support new Airo trainsets, which made their debut on the Cascades service last month. 

At nearly 100,000 square feet, this is Amtrak’s first maintenance facility of its kind. It houses three tracks under a single roof, where crews can inspect, service and perform heavy maintenance on an entire trainset. Amtrak says the project was not only completed on schedule but also $50 million below budget.

The shop is outfitted with a drop table,  a split-rail system, an overhead bridge crane and a monorail crane, plus sanding and diesel systems. Wayside water and air hose reels, sanitary and vacuum waste hoses, head-end power cabinets and a fall-protection lifeline run alongside. The wider project adds an employee parking deck and covered storage for maintenance materials.

“This new facility represents a major step forward for Amtrak and our customers in the Pacific Northwest,” said Laura Mason, Amtrak Executive Vice President of Capital Delivery in a statement. “By providing our teams the modern tools and space to maintain an entire Airo trainset at once, we can work more efficiently while continuing our commitment to safe, reliable and comfortable service for the next generation of Amtrak Cascades customers.”

The new facility will open in phases through the end of 2026. It’s the first of several facilities that will support the Airo fleet across the Amtrak system.

— Nick Stewart