Amtrak Cascades sees record ridership in September
AORTA ride the new Airo trainsets on Sept. 30, 2026. Photo by Mick Hangland-Skill
The Association of Oregon Rail & Transit Advocates (AORTA) is pleased to report another record setting achievement by Amtrak Cascades in Oregon.
Amtrak Cascades carried 13,533 passengers in Sept. 2026, a new all-time record for any September since the service began, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). It beat the previous high in September (2024) by 8.5%. So far for 2026, year-over-year ridership is up a whopping 24%.
“Oregonians are increasingly seeking alternatives to the high environmental and financial cost of automobiles to get around. Our leaders have an opportunity to deliver significant savings to the traveling public by investing in rail and transit at this critical time," said RJ Sheperd, AORTA Treasurer.
Ridership gains usher in the arrival of the highly anticipated new Airo trainsets that debuted on Amtrak Cascades on Sept. 30. The new trainsets feature upgrades to the passenger experience, including comfortable seats, high speed internet, ADA accessibility, and, yes, even Ivar’s clam chowder. Currently two Airo trainsets are operating on the route, one is in reserves in the Seattle yard, and five more are pending arrival to the corridor.
Cascades sets this record amid a shortage of equipment that severely limits the service's ability to carry more riders. Since spring 2025, the line has been running truncated trainsets with only three passenger cars: two coach cars and a combined cafe/business class car. This has capped the amount of passengers able to ride. Despite this, Amtrak Cascades is serving more people than ever in Oregon. Ridership is expected to grow as the new Airo trainsets are phased in and passenger capacity is increased.
Early next year, the Oregon Legislature has the opportunity to capitalize on the popularity of Cascades and encourage even more ridership. Lawmakers will vote on whether to fund infrastructure projects to allow Cascades to run six daily round trips, a train every two hours during the day, between Portland and Eugene, up from the three round trips currently.
“Our future in Oregon depends on creating reliable, accessible, and safe transportation options for Oregonians across our state. It’s clear that people want to ride the train, especially now. Investing only $10M/year over 20 years will deliver 6 daily round-trips between Portland and Eugene, providing a sustainable and affordable transportation system for the Willamette Valley and a solid transportation core that a greater statewide transit system can be built around," said Matt Krabacher, AORTA President
For further media inquiries, please contact comms@aortarail.org
-30-