Sure, Swedes end up handing half of what they earn over to the government, but look what they get in return: universal health care, sparkling cities and world-class meatballs. Sweden spends big money on services, which makes it odd that the country’s national rail network doesn’t make the grade.
But Sweden has big plans for trains that are faster, cleaner and cheaper, and the Green Train Project — aka Gröna Tåget — has taken a big step toward achieving that goal. After months of testing, a Swedish passenger train called REGINA broke the national speed record when it hit 188 mph — 63 mph more than REGINA trains usually run in Sweden. "We drove at about 100 kph higher than normal," said Hans Kumlin, who piloted the train, "so there was a real feeling of speed." Ecstatic government bureaucrats hope faster trains will convince Swedes to take trains instead of planes next time they travel.
Sweden wants to provide greener affordable inter-city transportation, but it’s been stymied by the rapid growth of budget airlines like Blue1 and ScandJet. These carriers offer fast, affordable flights, making travel so easy that many Swedes don’t even think about trains.
The government hopes REGINA, a two-car electric train built by Bombardier, will change that. The stainless steel train is soundproof, reduces energy use through propulsion and control equipment such as regenerative braking and runs like a Swiss watch through even the most bone-chilling Nordic winters. Radial steered bogies reduce track forces, minimizing wear and tear and maintenance costs. The REGINA runs on standard European tracks but at 12 feet across is wider than other trains, providing as many as 191 passengers with more room to stretch out with their steaming cups of Glögg.
Sweden’s already got some REGINA trains running around, but last week’s test run [between the cities of Toreboda and Skovde](<iframe width=) is significant because it allows the national rail company to ramp up train speeds throughout its network during the next five years. That could make Nordic commuters look at trains in a different light. Hitting 188 mph may not take anyone’s breath away — especially since the speed record of 361 mph is held by Japan’s JR Maglev magnetic levitation train — but Sweden isn’t looking for a trophy. It simply wants to provide rail service that is environmentally friendly while being comfortable, affordable and fast enough to compete against air travel.
Photos by Bombardier
