In early 2024, it was officially confirmed that VR would be taking over from MTR and their MTRX trains between Gothenburg and Stockholm, with the transition scheduled for May, which Railcolor covered in June. This significant change also brought about the anticipation of a new colour scheme for the trains, marking a fresh chapter for the FLIRT / X74 in Sweden:
Fast-forward six months. On 22.08.2024, VR announced they would soon introduce a redesign for the FLIRTs, reflecting the company’s renewed brand.
Just three days later, on 25.08.2024, the first green and white X74 FLIRT train made its debut run in Sweden. This event was a historic milestone as the vibrant green and white train, adorned with large white VR logos at the ends and along the sides, rolled out. MTRs old red design can still be seen peeking through in some places. This redesign symbolizes VR’s renewed brand in Finland and across its X74 fleet in Sweden. With VR modernizing the design of their FLIRT fleet in Sweden. The rollout of this train is just the beginning, with more green and white FLIRTs expected to join the fleet in the coming months, further solidifying VR’s growing presence and influence in the country.
Railcolor covered almost 11 years ago when MTR and Stadler announced their deal in six FLIRTs for use between Stockholm and Gothenburg mainly suited for work travel for the modernly named brand MTR Express, after 2020 just MTRX and now in 2024 VR Snabbtåg. All six FLIRT sets have a vibrant red and black design and names on the sides, with five now featuring MTRX–>VR-stickers on the sides, marking the significant change the trains have gone through and are still going through in 2024.
The whole fleet consists of:
- S-MTRX 94 74 5074 001-6 – X74 001 ‘Estelle’
- S-MTRX 94 74 5074 002-4 – X74 002 ‘Ingvar’
- S-MTRX 94 74 5074 003-2 – X74 003 ‘Rödluvan’
- S-MTRX 94 74 5074 004-0 – X74 004 ‘Glenn’
- S-MTRX 94 74 5074 005-7 – X74 005 ‘Trainy McTrainface’
- S-MTRX 94 74 5074 006-5 – X74 006 ‘Miriam’
The first VR X74 FLIRT out was 001 ‘Estelle’, who was spotted in both Stockholm and Gothenburg with the new foiled exterior design:
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