Amtrak
The first new Amtrak Cascades trainset wrapped up testing in Pueblo, Colo., and is officially headed to the Northeast Corridor for additional testing—marking a major milestone on the path to launching new trains on the Amtrak Cascades corridor in 2026.
“This trainset is part of our bold transformation in passenger rail, Amtrak said in a release.” Known within the industry as part of Amtrak’s Airo fleet, a total of 83 new trainsets will roll out across the country, starting with Amtrak Cascades, followed by the Northeast Regional, and other key routes.
“With Pacific Northwest-inspired design, modern amenities, and regional food and beverage offerings, we’re redefining the journey—one route at a time,” Amtrak said.
A video of the Airo is available here.
MBTA
The MBTA is paying tribute to the 1970s by putting a refurbished retro locomotive back on the tracks, according to a WBZ NewsRadio report.
The MBTA Commuter Rail train sports a classic yellow stripe on the front with a purple wraparound, “a paint job that was discontinued more than 20 years ago,” according to the report.
“We replaced all the components, and we want to keep it running for a few more years, make sure the service is reliable,” said MBTA spokesperson Joe Pesaturo. “Then after the overall work was done, we decided that we would revisit what we call the retro paint scheme.”
The refurbished locomotive left North Station on Oct. 21 at 10:30 a.m. and went to the train yard to be hooked up to coaches and prep for extra service to be done, WBZ NewsRadio reported.
According to the MBTA, “This tribute is part of a series honoring the legacy railroads that shaped the MBTA’s current operations, including the “Boston and Maine” heritage locomotive put into passenger service in September, as well as the upcoming locomotives highlighting the New Haven Railroad, which formed the bulk of the Southside lines, and the New York Central (Boston and Albany) Railroad, which historically operated what is now the Worcester Commuter Rail Line,” WBZ NewsRadio reported.
TransLink
A SkyTrain car from TransLink’s retiring Mark I fleet has been given a new home in a BC film studio—by Lumostage Virtual Production in Langley Township, the agency recently reported. Lumostage has repurposed an original Mark I car and integrated it into a 180-degree LED stage for film and television productions.
As the very first SkyTrain vehicles near the end of their service lives and make way for new Mark V cars in the coming years, TransLink says it is “inviting creative ideas to ensure these historic trains continue serving the region in fresh and innovative ways.”
“We’re thrilled to see one of our iconic SkyTrain cars enjoy a future which will preserve its legacy while supporting one of our strongest local industries,” said TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn. “Since first rolling out nearly 40 years ago, the Mark I SkyTrain cars have carried millions of customers and become a defining symbol of Metro Vancouver’s transit system.”
“Filming subway scenes in BC has always been a challenge—until now,” said Lumostage Chief Operating Officer Angus Luk-Ramsay. “By working with TransLink and top motion picture engineers and artists, Lumostage has turned a retired SkyTrain car into a film-friendly, interactive subway train set that makes our province an even more attractive destination for motion picture and commercial productions.”
TransLink is once again looking for other creative ideas to relocate and repurpose the rest of the roughly 130 retiring Mark I SkyTrain cars. Interested individuals, businesses, developers, community organizations, and municipalities are encouraged to submit proposals through a new Request for Information (RFI). This follows an initial call for idea submissions in November 2024.
Accepted applicants are responsible for funding the transport of the SkyTrain cars from the BC Rapid Transit Company (BCRTC) storage facility, as well as covering all the future costs of repurposing the cars.
Creative proposals for the next set of cars will be accepted until Nov. 28, 2025. Additional applications will open at a later date, as more vehicles are phased out of service.
