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Snabbtåg X2000 (Sweden)
Welcome to the guide to travelling on Sweden's top-tier express trains, it will tell you the key things worth knowing about making the most of the journey experience.
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At a Glance
Travel Pass Supplement
Rail Pass Reservation Fees
Reservations
Compulsory
Time of Day
Day
Catering
Food services available
Bistro (bar food and take away meals)
Accessibility
Accessing the train
Wheelchair Spaces
Train Specification
Attributes of the train
Has a Conductor
Travel Passes
Eurail
InterRail
On Board
1 Klass
Perks
WiFi
A complimentary WiFi portal is available throughout this train.
Power Socket
The power sockets on this train are compatible with standard E.U. two point plugs.
At Seat Catering
According to the time of day of travel, passengers will be able to choose from a menu of catering options, which will then be served at their seats.
A less obvious advantage of booking a klass 1 ticket, is that in klass 1, more of the seats (but not all) line up with the windows, enabling you to see the Swedish landscape in all its splendor.
In klass 2 the relationship between seats and windows is a lot more random.
Klass 1 passengers have access to a complimentary food/drink counter where you can help yourself to fruit, snacks and tea/coffee/water – though take care with the jugs of hot water on a tilting train.
Klass 1 travellers can also take the edge off of early morning starts with a rather lovely complimentary breakfast that’s served before 09:00.
(So there is an at-seat catering service in 1st class, but only for breakfast).
2 Klass
Perks
WiFi
A complimentary WiFi portal is available throughout this train.
Power Socket
The power sockets on this train are compatible with standard E.U. two point plugs.
Snabbtåg (X 2000) travel guide:
Snabbtåg is the express train service operated by Swedish national rail operator SJ, and two types of train are used on Snabbtåg services - the other trains used are the SJ 3000 trains
These X2000 trains are used on the Snabbtåg routes between Stockholm and Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Malmo and Oslo.
In a country without high speed lines, they achieve their speed by tilting around curves in the track.
Externally these X2000 trains won’t win any 'most beautiful train awards', but internally they’re more comfortable than many other express trains.
However, they are showing the age - hence a massive program of works is now underway to give these X2000 trains completely new interiors.
Reservations & using rail passes:
Seats will automatically be assigned when booking tickets for journeys by these trains.
However, if you book on the SJ website or app, you can now select seats from a seating plan - it shows the direction of travel, so you'll have the opportunity to choose forward facing seats.
Rail pass users will need to have made reservations prior to boarding.
These reservations can be booked online on the SJ Website - the step-by-step instructions for doing so are available here.
Booking these reservations, and general tickets, in advance before arriving in Sweden is recommended - particularly if you will be taking one of these trains on the international routes between Sweden and Denmark or Norway.
Boarding:
As reservations are compulsory the vagn (coach) and and plats (seat) number will be on your ticket or rail pass reservation.
What can be tricky, is that despite the need to travel in a specific vagn/coach - the info screens on the platform/track won’t indicate where you should wait on the platform for easy boarding.
X2000 trains are six coaches long, but two trains are joined together on some departures.
The best option is to ask the SJ staff on the platform (when available) for an approximate idea of where you should wait.
All coaches have a door at each end and an electronic display on the door will indicate the coach/vagn number – as well as the seat/plats numbers that can be most easily accessed by entering through that particular door.
But if need be enter by the nearest door and walk through the train, once your fellow travellers have settled into their places, in order to find your seat.
There is no need to rush as your seat(s) have been assigned to you, so nobody else will be sitting it.
There are no indications in the coaches of which seats have been reserved and which are available - as all seats have been assigned.
If when boarding, you're not happy with the seat(s) you have been allocated - you can ask the conductor, which other seats are available for your journey.
Though if you book on the SJ app and website, you can select seats from a seating plan - it shows the direction of travel, so you'll have the opportunity to choose forward facing seats.
Quiet zones are available in klass 1 and klass 2.
On board summary:
In klass 2 the access to Wi-Fi has recently been upgraded, while Klass 1 travellers have free 4G Wi-fi.
Catering:
The charges for food (sandwiches/salads etc) available from the on board bar counter, are higher than the price you’d pay at a station outlet.
As Sweden tends to be expensive, the on board prices will raise eyebrows - but the quality is generally excellent.
Bicycles:
Only bagged folded bikes can be taken aboard these trains (any SJ train) - no other bicycles are permitted.
This is one of more than 150 train guides available on ShowMeTheJourney, which will make it easier to take the train journeys you want or need to make. As always, all images were captured on trips taken by ShowMeTheJourney.
