A2 5087

First-class carriage with maximum comfort

The A2 passenger coach is a first-class seating coach of the 1960s type, manufactured between 1963 and 1968 by AB Svenska Järnvägsverkstäderna (ASJ) for Statens Järnvägar (SJ). These carriages, originally litra Ao2 before the litra reform in 1970, were part of SJ's modernisation of the passenger car fleet during this period.  

Design and use

The A2 carriages combined both compartments and saloons. The interior consisted of two compartments and two open saloons, each with three seats in width. The seats were wide and comfortable with ample legroom. The interior had many elements of teak and metal, which contributed to a rustic and solid impression. The good comfort meant that the A2 carriages gradually gained a reputation for being SJ's most comfortable carriage type, which we believe is still the case today.  

History

A total of 65 A2 carriages were delivered between 1963 and 1968. They were mainly used in long-distance trains on SJ's main lines. During the 1980s, the carriages could be seen in the City Express business trains on the Stockholm-Gothenburg route. However, the delivery of the new A7 carriages and gradually fewer local trains as the X2 high-speed trains took over in the 1990s meant that the use of the A2 decreased. SJ took the last A2 carriages out of regular service in 2005, and most of them were scrapped. However, some carriages were sold to other operators and museum organisations, and are still in service.