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X 2000 is the brand name of Sweden’s tilting 200 km/h high-speed train class X2, which is constructed by ADtranz 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 …
