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'X 2000' is the brand name of Sweden's tilting 200 km/h high-speed train class X2, which is 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. It was then the only train in Sweden to have air conditioning and audio sockets. There is a bistro on board that serves snack bar-style dishes.
The trains were initially used sparingly to avoid breakdowns. Starting 1995, the trains were used more intensively and second class was introduced.
Though the top speed of 200 km/h (120 mph) is unremarkable internationally, X 2000 deserves the reputation as a high-speed train since it cut journey times by about a quarter, enough to be competitive with airlines on many major routes. It typically averages about 150 km/h (90 mph). What makes this stand out is the fact that most of the railway that the train travels upon was built in the mid or late 1800s. The fastest part is Katrineholm - Skövde, 180 km, 1h 2min which is 175 km/h on average.
In 2000-2004, seven trains were operated by Linx on the lines Oslo-Göteborg-Malmö-København 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 being equipped with wireless LANs for passenger access to the Internet and repainted grey as of 2005. Trains are also being fitted with repeaters to improve mobile phone reception.

Contents

Impact on the railway

X 2000 routes

Overseas appearances

References

External links

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 that rail is a viable solution not just in exotic 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 and is being accelerated. 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 Oresund bridge, the Arlanda Airport link, Södertälje-Huddinge, Söderhamn-Enånger, Varberg-Kungsbacka and Helsingborg-Lund. The X 2000 train undoubtedly contributed to building public support for these large projects.

X 2000 routes

The X 2000 network radiates out from Stockholm, with the exception of the Göteborg-Malmö route. The other endpoints of the network are:

★ Arvika

★ Borås

★ Malmö

★ Copenhagen ''(København)'' in Denmark

★ Falun

★ Gothenburg ''(Göteborg)''

★ Härnösand

★ Jönköping

★ Uddevalla

★ Östersund (- Åre)

Overseas appearances

The manufacturer of X 2000 has tried to sell the train to other countries than Sweden. They have not succeeded. 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. It was used for a few runs on the Northeast Corridor between New York City and Washington, DC, and was taken around the 48 continental states for demonstration stops at significant stations.^[1]
In 1995, CountryLink (the regional operator in New South Wales, Australia), hired three X 2000 cars for evaluation purposes. The trains were towed by a modified XPT power car/locomotive and were in service from Sydney to Canberra for two months.^[2]
An X 2000 train operates in China, on the Guangshen railway, known as "Xinshisu".

References

1. Touring the Empire Corridor with the X2000 - high-speed train starts cross-country tour in New York State
2. X2000 in Australia

External links

★ X2000 technology