The project is intended to support maintenance requirements for future Amtrak Airo trains, with the first units expected to operate on the Amtrak Cascades route in 2026.
The new facility will feature a two-bay Maintenance and Inspection building and an additional service and cleaning bay. The construction phase follows the awarding of a contract last summer and the completion of preliminary works, including building relocation, train car equipment removal, and land preparation involving pile driving for structural stability.
Amtrak has stated that early stages such as pile driving, and excavation works are scheduled to conclude by the end of 2025. The erection of the pre-engineered metal structure is planned to start in early 2026. Completion of the overall project is scheduled for 2027.
King Street Yard serves as a base for trains operating on the Amtrak Cascades route, connecting Seattle with Portland and Vancouver, B.C., as well as for long-distance trains including the Coast Starlight and Empire Builder. The planned improvements are intended to adapt the yard’s maintenance capabilities to the needs of the new Amtrak Airo fleet, which will be introduced across more than a dozen routes nationally.
According to Amtrak, the Airo trains are to be operated as single trainsets rather than assembled from separate coaches. The adjustments at King Street Yard are part of a larger program covering facilities across the network. Additional work is underway in Philadelphia, and contracts have been awarded for similar infrastructure projects in Boston and Washington, D.C. Procurement and planning continue for sites in New York City and Rensselaer, N.Y.
The company has indicated that the upgraded yards are expected to streamline maintenance procedures and reduce turnaround times during servicing and inspections once the Airo trains are introduced.
