Major construction is now underway at Amtrak’s King Street Coach Yard in Seattle’s Sodo neighborhood, where a $300 million project is transforming the facility into a state-of-the-art maintenance hub for the upcoming Amtrak Airo fleet. The upgraded yard will play a pivotal role in enhancing passenger rail service across the Pacific Northwest.
Building the Foundation for the Future
Crews have begun foundation work for a new nearly 100,000-square-foot facility, which will anchor Amtrak’s shift toward modern, efficient, and environmentally conscious rail operations. When completed in 2027, the site will include a two-bay Maintenance and Inspection facility and a new Service and Cleaning bay — forming the backbone of a world-class rail yard.
Construction officially started in 2025, led by PCL Construction Services, following extensive pre-construction activities such as grading, building relocation, and equipment adjustments. Pile driving and mass excavation will continue through the end of 2025, with the steel structure scheduled to rise in early 2026.
“The Pacific Northwest is a key priority for Amtrak,” said Amtrak President Roger Harris during a recent tour of the site. “This critical investment will help us meet growing customer demand with brand new trains that upgrade safety, reliability, and comfort.”
First Stop: Amtrak Cascades
Seattle will be the first city to introduce the new Amtrak Airo trains when they begin service on the Cascades route in 2026. The popular line connects Eugene, Oregon, to Vancouver, British Columbia, with major stops in Portland and Seattle. The upgraded King Street facility will also service Long Distance trains such as the Empire Builder and Coast Starlight, further expanding its operational scope.
Amtrak Airo trains are designed to deliver a dramatically improved travel experience — featuring top speeds of up to 125 mph, redesigned café cars, modern seating, spacious restrooms, USB ports, and onboard Wi-Fi. These hybrid trains are also more environmentally friendly, using significantly less fuel and producing 90% less particulate emissions than conventional diesel trains.
Read also: MTA Begins Construction on New Long Island Rail Road Station in Yaphank, NY
A National Rail Yard Modernization Effort
Seattle’s King Street project is part of Amtrak’s broader nationwide effort to modernize its maintenance infrastructure. Similar upgrades are in progress or soon launching in Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., New York City, and Rensselaer, New York. These facilities are being redesigned to support Amtrak Airo’s new “trainset” model, which operates as a single unit instead of individual railcars — reducing turnaround time and boosting maintenance efficiency.
Though the upgrades may be invisible to travelers, they’re essential to enabling faster, cleaner, and more reliable rail travel for millions of future passengers.
Riding a Wave of Growing Ridership
The investment comes at a time when Amtrak ridership is surging in the Pacific Northwest. Between January and September, the Cascades route logged over 733,000 passengers — on pace to surpass its pre-pandemic high of 824,061 in 2019. Amtrak anticipates breaking the 1 million passenger mark in 2025.
Powered by Federal Investment
Funding for the project comes from the 2021 federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a major legislative effort to revitalize U.S. infrastructure and transportation.
In line with Amtrak’s sustainability goals, the King Street facility will operate without fossil fuels for heating. This supports the company’s commitment to sourcing 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2045.
Read also: Construction new Amtrak station in Brattleboro to commence
Amtrak King Street Yard Modernization – Project Factsheet
Project Overview
Location: 187 S. Holgate St., Seattle’s Sodo neighborhood (1 mile south of King Street Station)
Total Investment: $300 million
Contractor: PCL Construction Services
Lead Agency: Amtrak
Project Scope
Construction of a new ~100,000 sq. ft. maintenance facility
Includes:
Two-bay Maintenance and Inspection Facility
New Service and Cleaning Bay
Relocation of existing structures
Upgrades to utilities and yard infrastructure
Timeline
Pre-construction activities: Began in 2024 (grading, relocations, early site work)
Major construction start: Spring 2025
Pile driving & mass excavation: Through late 2025
Building erection: Early 2026
Estimated completion: 2027
Amtrak’s King Street Yard Construction Project: Purpose & Benefits
Support the new Amtrak Airo fleet, launching on the Amtrak Cascades route in 2026
Enable modern, efficient maintenance for both Airo and Long Distance trains (e.g., Empire Builder, Coast Starlight)
Improve safety, reliability, and rider experience
Sustainability Goals
Fossil fuel-free heating
Supports Amtrak’s climate targets:
100% carbon-free electricity by 2030
Net-zero emissions by 2045
New Amtrak Airo Train Features
Hybrid power with 90% less particulate emissions
Speeds up to 125 mph
Redesigned café cars
Modern seating, spacious restrooms
Individual outlets, USB ports, onboard Wi-Fi
Amtrak’s King Street Yard construction: Project Ridership & Strategic Value
First yard to support Amtrak Airo service
Cascades route ridership (2024 projection): Expected to exceed 1 million
Reinforces Seattle as a key hub for growing Amtrak demand in the Pacific Northwest
Part of a National Initiative
One of six rail yards nationwide being modernized
Other locations: Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., New York City, Rensselaer (NY)
Read also: Amtrak chooses Wohlsen Construction for it UOC project, Delaware
