Think Railways

Stadler Rail and ABB have signed a cooperation agreement to upgrade the X2000 high-speed train fleet for SJ, Sweden’s state-owned passenger operator. Since being introduced 25 years ago, the trains have been regarded as among the most comfortable trains in the world.  A total of 36 trains in the X2000 fleet will be outfitted with new electrical equipment from ABB. Stadler Rail will be in charge of installing this equipment. Stadler’s share of the cooperation totals around CHF 24 million, will be performed at a new location in Sweden and will create a host of new jobs..

The X2000 high-speed trains were built at the end of the 1980s by ASEA (one of ABB’s predecessors). The trains offer passengers a great deal of comfort, personal space and service, in part thanks to the vehicle bodies, which are much wider than the bodies of trains used in continental Europe. The vehicles were first used for the Stockholm–Gothenburg route, but were later used on a number of other routes.

Stadler Rail will perform the disassembly of the existing trains, the installation of the new equipment and the static commissioning of the vehicles at a new location in Sweden. This upgrade will significantly increase the reliability and availability of the trains. Furthermore, the X2000 will also be outfitted with a new passenger information system and will consume much less energy. In a second phase, SJ is planning to refurbish the interior of the trains. This phase will have its own separate tender.