SJ X2

X2
X2 train operated by SJ in Jonsered, Sweden
Manufacturer	ABB Adtranz
Built at	Västerås (ABB, electrical part), Kalmar (mechanical part)
Family name	X2000 (only one trainset exported)
Constructed	1989 - 1998
Entered service	1990
Number built	43 (44 with Xinshisu)
Formation	1 locomotive & 5 or 6 coaches
Fleet numbers	2001 - 2043
Capacity	Seated passengers: 76 (business class saloon) 51 (first class saloon)
Operator(s)	SJ
Specifications
Car body construction	Corrugated stainless steel
Car length	Locomotive: 17,750 mm (58 ft 2 7⁄8 in) Coach, over couplers: 24,950 mm (81 ft 10 1⁄4 in) Coach body: 24,400 mm (80 ft 5⁄8 in)
Width	3,050 mm (10 ft 0 in)
Height	3,814 mm (12 ft 6 1⁄8 in)
Floor height	Coach: 1,264 mm (49 3⁄4 in)
Wheel diameter	Locomotive: 1,100 mm (43.31 in) Coach: 880 mm (34.65 in)
Wheelbase	Bogie 2,900 mm (114.17 in) bogie centres of locomotive 8,975 mm (29 ft 5 3⁄8 in) bogie centers of coaches 17,700 mm (58 ft 7⁄8 in)
Maximum speed	200 km/h (120 mph) (in service)
Weight	Locomotive: 73 t (72 long tons; 80 short tons) coach, tare: 47 t (46 long tons; 52 short tons)
Axle load	17.5 t (17.2 long tons; 19.3 short tons)
Power output	3,260 kW (4,370 hp)
Tractive effort	Locomotive: 160 kN (36,000 lbf) max. 107 kN (24,000 lbf) cont. @108 km/h (67 mph) 110 kN (25,000 lbf) braking from 130 km/h (81 mph) to 0 km/h (0 mph)
Train heating	Yes
Electric system(s)	15 kV ​16 2⁄3 Hz AC catenary 25 kV 50 Hz AC catenary
Current collection method	Pantograph
Braking system(s)	Loco: brake shoe on rim (air) and regenerative brake Coach: disc brake and magnetic brake
Coupling system	Automatic (which type?)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)

X2 is the Swedish high speed train system operated by the operator SJ (Swedish Railways) under the SJ 2000 brand name. It has a top commercial speed of 200 km/h (120 mph), but has reached 276 km/h (171 mph) in a test. The reason the X2 was chosen was that Sweden (like most other countries) has very curved railways, and not enough traffic to justify building special high-speed railway lines (at least before 1990). 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 (short radius or tight) curves up to 15% faster than non-tilting trains. The X2 was designed and built by Asea (later ABB Asea Brown Boveri, Adtranz ABB Daimler Benz Transportation and now Bombardier Transportation). The drive unit for the X2 is designated as a multiple unit although since the drive unit does not carry any passengers it should be considered as a locomotive.

SJ ordered 20 trainsets in August 1986 and planned to order further 30 trainsets. However, this figure was later reduced to only 43 trainsets.

Technical

The X2 was designed for old main lines with tight curves and with continuously welded rails (the train has a maximum axle load of 17 tonnes (16.7 long tons; 18.7 short tons), which causes large forces on the track). 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 3,260 kW (4,370 hp), which is comparatively low for a fast train. It also enabled SJ to say that it does not consume more power at 200 km/h (120 mph) than older Rc- locomotive hauled trains at 130 km/h (81 mph).

Operation

modernised second class interior

The X2 trains have mostly run 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

Technical data X2 passenger coaches

Each train also have 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.

Exports

Xinshisu trainset in China operated by Guangshen Railway Company (2006)

At the beginning, SJ believed there would be a high number of exported X2-trains. Norway, Finland, Germany, Austria, France, China, Australia, Portugal and the US were mentioned as candidates. Only one X2-trainset was exported (China).

An X2 train was also loaned to the American rail operator Amtrak in 1992-93 and to the Australian operator CountryLink in 1995 for evaluation, but neither operator bought any X2- trains.^[1] The X2 was also tested in Norway and Germany. There were competitors which had lower price, including Pendolino and ICE T.

See also

• List of high speed trains
• X 2000

References

• Spec Sheet; French

External links

• Media related to ASEA X2 at Wikimedia Commons