VR Snabbtåg Sverige
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Predecessor | MTRX (formerly MTR Express) |
| Founded | July 2013 |
| Founder | MTR Corporation |
| Headquarters | Sweden |
Area served | Sweden |
| Products | Intercity rail services |
| Owner | VR Group (Finnish government-owned) |
Number of employees | 130 (2024) |
| Parent | VR Group |
VR Snabbtåg Sverige (), previously known as MTRX, is a Swedish rail operator providing open access intercity services connecting Gothenburg and Stockholm. It functions as a subsidiary of the Finnish government-owned VR Group, operating through its Swedish division, VR Sverige.
Establishment and operations under MTR Corporation (2013–2024)
The company was established as MTR Express by MTR Corporation in July 2013, securing rights to run trains between Gothenburg and Stockholm. Service commenced on 21 March 2015 using six Stadler Flirt electric multiple units, engineered for long-distance routes with maximum speeds of , and equipped with onboard café services.
In 2017, the operator attracted media attention after naming one train "Trainy McTrainface," a nod to the viral "Boaty McBoatface" phenomenon. Another train was named "Glenn," paying tribute to a cultural icon linked to Gothenburg’s football heritage.
The brand was updated to MTRX in 2020.
MTRX maintained a leading position in customer satisfaction, earning the title “Sweden's Most Satisfied Customers” within the train category of the Swedish Quality Index (SKI) for eight consecutive years from 2016 through 2024.
Acquisition by VR Group (2024–present)
In May 2024, Finnish state-owned VR Group finalized the purchase of MTRX from MTR Nordic. The transaction included six Stadler FLIRT trains and approximately 130 staff members. This acquisition supports VR Group’s strategic growth in the Swedish market, where it already operates bus, rail, and tram services following its 2022 acquisition of Arriva Sweden and subsequent rebranding to VR Sverige.
Elisa Markula, CEO of VR Group, highlighted that Sweden’s commercial long-distance rail sector is roughly double the size of Finland’s market and features a considerably larger rail modal share. Starting August 2024, MTRX began adopting the VR brand identity, with the first trains sporting VR’s characteristic green livery entering operation late that month. The full rebranding process is expected to conclude by November 2024.
Rolling stock
Since March 2015, VR Snabbtåg has operated six X74 EMU trains built by Swiss manufacturer Stadler Rail, specifically adapted for Nordic conditions. Each five-car X74 set is powered by a 4,500 kW traction system and capable of speeds up to 200 km/h.
The X74 model is a Nordic-customized version of the Stadler FLIRT, comparable to those utilized by Norwegian operator Vy. Although similar in technical specifications, the X74 interiors are designed specifically for the Stockholm-Gothenburg long-distance route. These trains feature partial Jakobs bogies but do not possess the tilting technology found on SJ AB's X2000 units. A revision in Swedish curve speed regulations from 2017 permits the X74 to negotiate curves at speeds only about 8% slower than those of X2000 trains, resulting in journey times extended by just 3-5%.
The interior layout includes comfortable long-distance seating arranged in a 2+2 configuration and a kiosk located in the central carriage alongside accessible seating options. The design employs grey hues accented with green details and features clocks manufactured by Breitling.