The contract for the first firm order is valued at around €650 million and also includes the option for 15 additional trains.
The first train is scheduled for delivery in 2026.
“Alstom is immensely proud to be delivering these new high-speed trains to SJ. This is a historic agreement that will change the way passengers travel across the country. With concerns about climate change, high-speed rail is the primary alternative to air travel. It’s comfortable, convenient, and now very fast. This is a trend we see everywhere, and Alstom is the leader in this domain with experience from several high-speed train projects around the world. We thank SJ for their continued confidence in us,” said Rob Whyte, managing director of Alstom Nordics.
The Zefiro Express trains will effectively be Sweden’s fastest ever, capable of operating at maximum speeds of 250km/h and designed to operate in harsh weather conditions, even when temperatures drop as low as -40C.
The trains will each have a total capacity of 363 seats and the carriage width, electrical systems, and signalling systems have been developed with an understanding that the trains will run in both Sweden and Denmark, but they will also be certified for traffic in Norway.