Amtrak Advances Significant Renovations at Seattle Railway Workshop
Amtrak's King Street Yard in Seattle to Undergo $300 Million Transformation
Amtrak's King Street Coach Yard in Seattle's Sodo neighborhood is set for a significant transformation, as the rail service company gears up for modern, efficient, and environmentally conscious rail operations. The project, estimated to cost $300 million, is slated for completion in 2027.
The upcoming transformation will see the yard evolve into a state-of-the-art maintenance hub for Amtrak's new Amtrak Airo fleet. This modernization is part of Amtrak's broader nationwide effort to modernize its maintenance infrastructure to support the new "trainset" model.
Pre-construction activities, including grading, relocations, and early site work, began in 2024. Major construction for the yard started in spring 2025, led by PCL Construction Services. The building erection is scheduled for early 2026, with pile driving and mass excavation continuing through the end of 2025.
The King Street facility will be the first yard to support Amtrak Airo service, featuring a two-bay Maintenance and Inspection facility and a new Service and Cleaning bay. The company leading the renovation is Davis Constructors & Engineers.
The Amtrak Airo fleet, which will launch on the Amtrak Cascades route in 2026, is designed to deliver a dramatically improved travel experience. The hybrid trains are more environmentally friendly, using significantly less fuel and producing 90% less particulate emissions than conventional diesel trains.
Amtrak Airo trains will feature redesigned cafe cars, modern seating, spacious restrooms, USB ports, and onboard Wi-Fi. The projected ridership for the Cascades route in 2024 is expected to exceed 1 million.
The King Street facility will also service Long Distance trains such as the Empire Builder and Coast Starlight. The yard's modernization is part of a national initiative, with other locations including Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., New York City, and Rensselaer (NY).
The King Street Yard's modernization aims to reinforce Seattle as a key hub for growing Amtrak demand in the Pacific Northwest. In line with Amtrak's commitment to sustainability, the yard will operate without fossil fuels for heating, supporting Amtrak's goal of sourcing 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2045.
The construction project is funded by the 2021 federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. With the Amtrak Airo fleet set to introduce top speeds of up to 125 mph, the King Street Yard is poised to play a crucial role in Amtrak's shift towards a more efficient and eco-friendly future.
