X2000 with RTL Turboliners at Washington Union Station, 1992.
Color film slide showing the X2000 demonstration train at Washington Union Station during its testing period in November, 1992.
- Photograph Details
-
- Date Archived:
- June 25, 2014
- Geography:
- Northeast
- Decade:
- 1990s
- Data Format:
- Image
- Date Created:
- November 1992
- Download the full-sized version of this photo
As Amtrak explored the development of high-speed rail in the early 1990s, it leased two European high-speed trainsets for testing: the Swedish X2000 and the German Intercity Express (ICE). Both trainsets were used in revenue service on the southern portion of the Northeast Corridor in 1993. The equipment was also put on display in cities across the country.
Designed and built by Asea Brown Boveri, Inc. for the Swedish State Railways, the X2000 shown above was tested by Amtrak because it could travel at higher speeds than conventional trains on existing main line track; unlike contemporary French and Japanese high-speed trainsets, it did not require new, dedicated tracks.
In this image, the X2000 is parked on track 17 at Washington Union Station. To the left, on track 16, are RTL Turboliners Nos. 154 and 158. Built by Rohr Industries, the RTL Turboliners were delivered to Amtrak in 1976-77 for use in upstate New York on the Empire Service and Adirondack. They were modified from the earlier RTG Turboliner units to include American couplers and standard 480 volt head end power.
Photographer: Ingwar Afeldt. From the Ingwar Afeldt Collection.
