The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) purchased two new Talgo Series 8 13-car trainsets using funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, with one of the trainsets available for tours at Union Station in Portland.

Both trainsets will soon rotate into the Amtrak Cascades fleet, which provides passenger rail service from Eugene, Ore. to Vancouver, B.C.

“I think it’s an indication of our affection for trains that we are the first in the world to use Talgo’s Series 8 trains,” ODOT Director Matt Garrett said. “It took an amazing partnership of both public and private organizations — and the support of train fans – to make this dream come true.”

Partners in the project include Washington Department of Transportation, Amtrak, Talgo America, Federal Transit Administration, Federal Rail Administration, Federal Highway Administration, Interfleet Engineers, Transport Canada, Oregon Department of Justice, Union Pacific & Burlington Northern/Santa Fe Rail, and others.

Oregon has spent $38.4 million for the purchase of the trainsets and another $6 million for consultants, spare parts, testing and the addition of Wi-Fi.

Oregon purchased its own trains to preserve passenger rail service in the Willamette Valley and to position the state for improved service in the future. Oregon’s trainsets will bring the total number of trains operating in the corridor to seven; the Washington Department of Transportation owns three and Amtrak owns two.