Two new 13-car Talgo trainsets have arrived in Oregon, securing passenger services between Eugene and Portland.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to launch the new Series 8 passenger trains, which have been purchased by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to operate on the Amtrak Cascades route.
The new trains, which have been built by Spanish rolling stock manufacturer Talgo at the company’s site in Wisconsin, have had to meet strict requirements over the use of American suppliers.
Oregon Department of Transportation Director Matt Garrett said: “This is an exciting day for everyone in Oregon – not just for those who love trains, but for those who appreciate having options in travel.
“It took an amazing amount of teamwork to make this dream of having our own trains come true. Now, we’re taking the next big step in Oregon passenger rail travel with our own state-owned trains.”
