X 2000

This article is about the Swedish high speed train. For the 1998 movie from Fidélité Productions, see X2000.

An X 2000 of SJ AB, photographed on 5 February 2005

X 2000 was until Dec 2011 the brand name of Sweden's tilting 200 km/h high-speed train class X2, which was constructed by Kalmar Verkstad in Kalmar, Sweden (prior to the company being bought by Adtranz in 1996) and operated by SJ. It was launched in 1990 as a first-class only train with a meal included in the ticket price, and free use of the train's fax machine. There is a bistro on board that serves snack bar-style dishes.

The trains were initially used sparingly to avoid breakdowns. From 1995 the trains were used more intensively and second class was introduced.

The train's designated top speed is 210 km/h (but during a trial with double locomotive units in 1993 it reached 276 km/h), but the maximum allowed speed in regular traffic is 204 km/h (127 mph) since the signal system (and systems like the catenary) are not built for more for safety reasons, and as it shares the track with regular trains and as most of the lines it uses were built in the mid to late 19th century. The 19th century railways Stockholm-Göteborg/Malmö are relatively straight, since they were planned the shortest way without taking intermediate cities into account, and the landscape is relatively flat. Other 19th century railways are generally curvier. In comparison to other high-speed trains, the X2000 is not particularly fast; but compared to regular train services, it cuts journey time by about 25% - enough to make it competitive with airlines on many routes. It typically averages about 150 km/h (90 mph). The fastest part is Katrineholm - Skövde, a distance of 180 km (approximately 112 miles) that is covered in 1h 2min, resulting in an average speed of 174.2 km/h (108.74 mph).

In 2000-2004, seven trains were operated by Linx on the lines Oslo-Gothenburg-Malmö-Copenhagen and Oslo-Stockholm. Linx was a joint venture between SJ and its Norwegian counterpart NSB. It was wound up when SJ wanted to move the trains to more profitable lines in Sweden. Low-fares airlines also played a part in siphoning off passengers from the comparatively slow Linx services, the main ones taking well in excess of three hours.

All trains are equipped with wireless LANs for passenger access to the Internet and were repainted grey as of 2005. The trains also have electric power supply sockets at all seats in both first and second class. The trains have been fitted with repeaters to improve mobile phone reception.

X2000 was a brand name for a number of train connections with a certain service level. Generally the X2 train is used, but because of lack of vehicles, relatively often (especially year 2009/2010) other train types are used, like X40 or Rc loco-hauled stock. These connections were called X2000 on the tickets anyway.

Since Dec 2011, the high speed services of SJ using X2 or X55 trains are called "SJ Snabbtåg" or "SJ High-speed train".

Impact on the railway

An SJ X 2000 used for a direct connection between Stockholm, Sweden and Copenhagen, Denmark across the Øresund Bridge. Picture taken at Hovedbanegården, Copenhagen Central Station, in September 2005

Interior of first class (modernised)

The train has had a major effect on SJ and the country's railway. More passengers, together with the lower operating costs associated with operating trains faster and more efficiently, helped SJ become profitable.

It also proved to Swedes that rail is a viable solution not just in exotic densely populated foreign countries, but also at home in Sweden. In 1991, the government started a massive investment program, spending 5-10 billion kronor annually on improvements to the rail network. The program continues today. A milestone was reached in the late nineties when the number of trips taken by train in Sweden exceeded the 1940s level for the first time.

New links built since 1990 include the Øresund Bridge, the Arlanda Airport link, Södertälje-Huddinge, Söderhamn-Enånger, Varberg-Kungsbacka and Helsingborg-Lund. The X 2000 train undoubtedly^{[citation needed]} contributed to building public support for these large projects.

The fast growing popularity of the trains has however created problems with capacity. The time taken for the X2000 trains are longer in 2008 than in 2000. For Stockholm-Malmö the fastest train takes 21 minutes more time than in 2000. It is the congestion on the railways that impedes the fast trains, especially the prioritized fastest connections. The railways are used by fast X2000 trains, slower passenger trains, and much slower freight trains.

Services

Swedish rail network

The X 2000 network consists of the following lines:

• Stockholm–Falun, calling at Arlanda, Uppsala, Avesta-Krylbo, Borlänge and Falun
• Stockholm–Gothenburg, calling at Flemingsberg or Södertälje Syd, Katrineholm or Hallsberg, Skövde, Herrljunga (only a few trains), Alingsås (sometimes) and Gothenburg
• Stockholm–Jönköping, calling at Flemingsberg, Norrköping, Linköping, Tranås, Nässjö and Jönköping
• Stockholm–Karlstad, calling at Södertälje Syd, Katrineholm, Hallsberg, Degerfors, Kristinehamn and Karlstad
• Stockholm–Malmö, with some trains continuing to Copenhagen, calling at Flemingsberg or Södertälje Syd, Katrineholm (only a few trains), Norrköping, Linköping, Mjölby (sometimes), Nässjö, Alvesta, Hässleholm, Lund and Malmö. Trains that continue to Copenhagen also call at Copenhagen Airport and Copenhagen Central Station. For a short period during 2010-2011, there was one daily train to/from Odense.
• Stockholm-Sundsvall Central Station, with some trains continuing to Östersund Central Station, stopping at Arlanda (no passenger service to Stockholm), Uppsala (no passenger service to Stockholm or Arlanda), Gävle, Söderhamn and Hudiksvall before Sundsvall, and at Ånge between Sundsvall and Östersund.
• Stockholm–Arvika, calling at Södertälje Syd, Katrineholm, Hallsberg, Degerfors, Kristinehamn, Karlstad, Kil and Arvika.
• Stockholm–Uddevalla, calling at Södertälje Syd, Hallsberg, Skövde, Herrljunga, Vänersborg, Vara and Uddevalla. In summer time extended to Strömstad, with some intermediate stops.

Future services

With X2000 being in high demand SJ ordered 20 X55 Bombardier Regina trains in 2008 to replace the X2000 on lines where its performance can't be fully utilized. When these trains are delivered the X2000 will be concentrated to the main lines of Stockholm-Copenhagen Stockholm-Gothenburg and Gothenburg-Copenhagen using double-length X2000 during rush hours.

Overseas appearances

X 2000 "Xinshisu" in China (2006)

The manufacturer of X 2000 has tried to sell the train to other countries than Sweden, but with mixed success. In connection with the sales attempts the train was tested and demonstrated in some countries.

An X 2000 trainset toured the United States in 1993 on lease to Amtrak. The train was tested by Amtrak October 1992-January 1993. It was used in revenue service on the Northeast Corridor between New York City and Washington, D.C. for about 5 months, February - May and August - September. In May - July it was taken on a National Tour around the 48 continental states for demonstration stops at significant stations. It also toured parts of Canada.

In 1995, CountryLink (the regional operator in New South Wales, Australia), hired three X 2000 cars for evaluation purposes, being one driving trailer, one bistro car and one first class car. The trains were towed in a push/pull operation by two modified XPT power car/locomotives, numbered XP2000 and XP2009 and were in service from Sydney to Canberra for two months, from 23 April to June 18, 1995.

China also purchased a X 2000 train named "Xinshisu" (New Speed). The train served as Guangzhou-Kowloon Through Train on the Guangshen Railway from 1998 to 2007. It was delivered to Sichuan Province in August 2007. However, due to the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, Chengdu Railway Bureau needed to rebuild the railway networks in Sichuan Province. Also, the authority could not carry the maintenance costs of the train. It was therefore returned to Guangshen Railway Company Limited in late December 2008. It is currently in storage.

See also

• Train categories in Europe

External links

• X2000 technology
• YouTube clip of X2000
• YouTube clip of passing X2000 train