tågvagn

A tågvagn is a rail vehicle that forms part of a train and is designed to carry passengers or freight. It is coupled to other rail vehicles using standard couplers and is supported by bogies to provide stability and ride quality. A tågvagn is distinct from a locomotive, which provides motive power rather than carrying passengers or freight.

Most tågvagnar used for passenger service are equipped with seating, doors, and often facilities such as restrooms, luggage spaces, and in some cases dining or sleeping accommodations. Passenger cars come in various types, including standard coaches, first-class cars, sleepers, dining cars, and panoramic observation cars. Freight tågvagnar (godsvagnar) are designed primarily for cargo and may include containers, bulk goods, liquids, or specialized loads.

Construction materials include steel or aluminium bodies mounted on bogies with wheelsets and suspension. Modern designs emphasize crashworthiness, accessibility, air conditioning, energy efficiency, and passenger comfort. In many networks, multiple units consist of sets of self-propelled cars (motor cars) and driving trailers, which can operate without separate locomotives; these units are powered by electric or diesel traction and are controlled from a driving cab.

Historically, tågvagnar evolved from wooden coaches in the early railway era, with the introduction of new bogie designs and standardized couplings improving stability and interoperability. The transition to steel construction, the adoption of air brakes, and later electrification and multiple-unit configurations shaped modern passenger and freight rail service.

See also: rolling stock, railcar, railway carriage, bogie.