X 2000


X 2000, also called SJ X2 or simply as X2, is a tilting train operated by SJ in Sweden. It was constructed by Kalmar Verkstad in Kalmar, Sweden and 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. From 1995 second class was introduced. All trains are equipped with Wi-Fi 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.
It has a top commercial speed of, but has reached in a test. The reason the X2 was chosen was that Sweden has very curved railways, and not enough traffic to justify building special high-speed railway lines. As a result, a Swedish tilting train had to be developed. A tilting train provided the advantages of high speed and comfort for the passengers, as tilting trains can run through sharp curves up to 15% faster than non-tilting trains. The X2 was designed and built by ASEA.
SJ ordered 20 trainsets in August 1986 and planned to order further 30 trainsets. However, this figure was later reduced to only 43 trainsets.

Name

"X 2000" was originally 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, sometimes other train types have been used, like X40 or Rc loco-hauled stock. Since December 2011, all high speed services of SJ using X2 or X55 trains are called SJ Snabbtåg.

Speed

The train's designated top speed is. It reached during a trial run with double locomotive units in 1993. The maximum speed allowed in regular traffic is for safety reasons – the signalling system are not built for higher speeds, and it shares the track with regular trains ; also, most of the lines it uses were built in the mid-to-late-19th century. The 19th century railways Stockholm–Gothenburg/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 X 2000 is not particularly fast; but compared to regular train services, it cuts journey time by about 10-15% – enough to make it competitive with airlines on many routes. It typically averages about. The fastest part is Katrineholm–Skövde, a distance of that is covered in 1h 2min, resulting in an average speed of. However the introduction of the new Stadler FLIRT X74 trains in 2015 for MTR Express, which competes with the X 2000 on the busy Stockholm–Gothenburg route, means that the X 2000 now has at most only a 9% theoretical speed advantage compared to the X74, making it unlikely for any new tilting trains to be introduced in Sweden in the future.

Lines and services

Former lines and services

In 2008 SJ ordered 20 X55 Bombardier Regina trains to replace the X 2000 on lines with lower demand and where its performance cannot be fully utilised.
When these trains was delivered in 2012 and 2013 the X 2000 trains could be concentrated to fewer lines with bigger demands such as Stockholm–Malmö/Copenhagen and Stockholm–Gothenburg, using double-length X 2000 between Stockholm and Gothenburg during rush hours and weekends.

Impact on the railway

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 Swedish 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-1990s 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 contributed to building public support for these large projects.
The fast-growing popularity of the trains has created problems with capacity. The time taken for the X 2000 trains were longer in 2008 than in 2000. For Stockholm–Malmö the fastest train took 21 minutes longer in 2008 compared to 2000. It is the congestion on the railways that impedes the fast trains, especially the prioritised fastest connections. The railways are used by fast X 2000 trains, slower passenger trains, and much slower freight trains.

Exports

The manufacturer of the X 2000 had tried to sell the train to countries other than Sweden, but with mixed success. In connection with the sales attempts the train was tested and demonstrated in some countries. Norway, Finland, Germany, Austria, France, China, Australia, Portugal and the US were mentioned as candidates.
An X 2000 toured the United States in 1992–1993 on lease to Amtrak. It was tested by Amtrak from October 1992 until January 1993. It was used in revenue service on the Northeast Corridor between New York City and Washington, D.C. for about five months, from February until May and from August until September 1993. From May until 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, three X 2000 cars were hired by Australian operator CountryLink for evaluation purposes, being one driving trailer, one bistro car and one first class car. The trains were towed in a push/pull mode by modified XPT power cars XP2000 and XP2009. After conducting a statewide tour of New South Wales in March 1995, they were used on Sydney to Canberra services from April to June 1995. An X2 train was also loaned to the American rail operator Amtrak in 1992-93 and to the Australian State Rail Authority of New South Wales for its CountryLink services in 1995 for evaluation, but neither operator bought any X2 trains. The X2 was also tested in Norway and Germany. There were competitors which had lower price, including Pendolino and ICE T.
China did purchase a X 2000 train which it named "Xinshisu". The train served as Guangzhou-Kowloon Through Train on the Guangshen Railway from 1998 until 2007. The train was initially supposed to been given the number 2044, but due to the fact that the number "4" sounds the same as the word for "death" in the Chinese language, it was renumbered as 2088, of which the number "8" symbolises luck in Chinese culture. It was delivered to Sichuan Province in August 2007 when it was replaced by an CRH1A. 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 in late December 2008. In 2012 the train was purchased by SJ and shipped back to Sweden. The train had some serious damage and maintenance was partially cancelled. The power car and the trailer cab were scrapped after being display at the Swedish Railway Museum. Five of the trailer cars were repaired and re-entered service.

Technical

The X2 was designed for old main lines with tight curves and with continuously welded rails. However, since 1990 a lot of new high speed lines have been constructed in Sweden, both upgraded lines and new lines. These upgraded or new lines always have ATC, continuously welded rails on concrete sleepers and no crossings with road and rail at the same level. The tilting function is not used on these lines.
The max power continuous output of the locomotive is, which is comparatively low for a fast train. It also enabled SJ to say that it does not consume more power at than older Rc- locomotive hauled trains at.
The X2 trains have mostly run at the X 2000 service level, but have periodically been used for Linx traffic as well as regional services, for which fewer coaches were used to improve acceleration.
Technical data X2 locomotive
General
OperatorSJ
Manufacturing year1989–1998
Number of manuf.43
Supplier mechanical partKVAB
Supplier electrical partAsea/ABB
Axle arrBo-Bo
Weight73 t
Axle load17.5 t
Max tractive eff160 kN
Max speed210 km/h
Body
Length17,750 mm
Bogie distance8,975 mm
Height over pantographx,xxx mm
Body widthx,xxx mm
Couplingautomatic
which type?
Surfacecorrugated stainless steel
Coloursilver
Bogies
Track width1,435 mm
Axle distance2,900 mm
Wheel diameter,new1,100 mm
Primary suspensionrubber pad
Secondary suspensioncoil
Brakeshoe, regenerative
Bogie WeightNA
Min hor radiusNA
Electrical equipment
Catenary voltage15 kV / 25 kV
Catenary frequency16 2/3 Hz / 50 Hz
Max cont power3.26 MW
Traction motorMJA 385-2
Max power trainheating360 kW

Technical data X2 passenger coaches
UB2UA2
General
OperatorSJSJ
Type of coachsecond class saloonfirst class saloon
ManufacturerKVAB, AseaKVAB, Asea
Manufact year1989-xxxx1989-xxxx
Tare Weight47 t47 t
Manufact countrySwedenSweden
Number of manufactNANA
Max allow. speed200 km/h200 km/h
Body
Length24,950 mm24,950 mm
Body length24,400 mm24,400 mm
Bogie distance17,700 mm17,700 mm
Body height3,814 mm3,814 mm
Body width3,050 mm3,050 mm
Floor height1,264 mm1,264 mm
Body materialstainless steelstainless steel
Type of couplingshort short
Coloursilversilver
Type of entrance doorslide door, plugslide door, plug
BogiesNA
Bogie MarkNANA
Track gauge1,435 mm1,435 mm
Axle distance2,900 mm2,900 mm
Wheel diameter- new880 mm880 mm
Primary suspensionrubber padrubber pad
Secondary suspensionairair
Brakedisk- & magnetic raildisk- & magnetic rail
No of disks per axle22
Bogie weightNANA
Electrical equipment
Train heating voltage3 x 380 V 50 Hz3 x 380 V 50 Hz
No of phases3-phase3-phase
Air conditioningyesyes
Interior
Floor plansaloonsaloon
No of seats76 seats51 seats
Seats abreast2 + 22 + 1
Seat distance95 cm105 cm

Each train also has a UB2X coach with a driver's place, and a URB2 coach with a simple restaurant.
In the beginning there were many more UA2 first class coaches than UB2 second class coaches. But after a decision that state employees should normally use second class for train journeys in their works instead of first class something many companies followed, many UA2 have been rebuilt into UB2.