First X80s in service
posted on 1st Jun 2026 12:46
After several years of delay, the long-awaited moment arrived for Västtrafik on 11 May 2026, when the first X80 EMU departed from Göteborg C for Älvängen at 6.50 h. At this moment, passengers can finally start using the trains that were ordered as the ZEFIRO Express X80 in April 2018 from the Bombardier Transportation and whose deliveries were originally scheduled to take place in 2021 - 24. After the first order of 40 units, five more were ordered from the option in November 2018 and then in November 2025 another 35 EMUs, which now belong to the Avelia Stream Nordic family from Alstom.
Software problems that have recently further delayed deliveries have been resolved. Although there are still a few details to be adjusted, this does not affect the safety of the operation, so the first two batch-built units were handed over to the customer at the beginning of May 2026 and the second two in mid-May. They are used on various routes in western Sweden, mainly Göteborg - Älvängen, Göteborg - Vänersborg a Göteborg - Varberg, where their maximum speed of 200 km/h can be achieved.
Meanwhile, driver training is underway for the further expansion of the X80‘s operation, as Västtrafik expects to have ten units available by the summer. In the coming years, the X80s will be used on all electrified lines in the region, which will result in the retirement of the oldest Class X11 EMUs.
