Accurate prediction of aerodynamic damping is essential for flutter and forced response analysis of turbomachinery components. Reaching a high level of confidence in numerical simulations requires that the models have been validated against the experiments. Even though a number of test cases have been established over the past decades, there is still a lack of suitable detailed test data that can be used for validation purposes in particular when it comes to aero damping at high reduced frequencies which is more relevant in the context of forced response analysis. A new transonic cascade test rig, currently undergoing commissioning at KTH, has been designed with the goal to provide detailed blade surface unsteady pressure data for compressor blades profiles oscillating at high reduced frequencies. The paper provides an overview of the blade actuation system employed in the test rig and presents the result of a series of bench tests characterizing the blade vibration amplitudes achieved with this actuation system.