Sweden has decided to upgrade the Iron Ore Line, or Malmbanan in Swedish. The upgrades are necessary due to two recent derailments. Moreover, the country’s NATO accession requires the rail line to function properly at all times. The railway line in Sweden’s north is crucial for mining and military purposes.
The Iron Ore Line stretches from the northern town of Boden to the Norwegian port of Narvik. The rail line primarily facilitates the transport of ores from the mines of Swedish mining enterprise LKAB, which operates some of Europe’s largest mines. Moreover, with the accession of Sweden and Finland into NATO, the rail line has become increasingly important from a military perspective.
Now, the Swedish government has instructed the country’s transport administration to prioritise and prepare upgrades on the Iron Ore Line. Recently, the line was out of operation for approximately 80 days after two derailments. The reopening of the line after the first derailment in December 2023 was followed by another derailment four days later.
Sounding the alarm
Consequently, 60 large businesses and decision-makers sounded the alarm and appealed to the government to take action on the Iron Ore Line. According to Swedish media, mining company LKAB loses about ten million euros a day when the line is not operational. Military experts also pointed to the strategic importance of the line.
The government has now commissioned the Swedish Traffic Administration to prioritise work on the line. According to a report by the administration, two railway yards will be extended along the line, as well as four rendezvous points. Between the mining towns of Svappavaara and Kiruna, the railway will be upgraded in order to facilitate trains with an axle load of 32,5 tonnes. Currently, the maximum axle load is 30 tonnes. This would mean that each train could carry an additional 680 tonnes of ore.
Likewise, Sweden plans to upgrade the rail between Kiruna and the Norwegian border to facilitate trains with a maximum axle load of 32,5 tonnes. Additional crossing points for reindeer and other wild animals will also be added to the line. Lastly, the upgrades include track, catenary and switchgear replacements.
Capacity
By 2030, the Traffic Administration expects that the daily number of trains running on the Iron Ore Line will increase by 8. On its most busy segments, 34 freight trains will pass on a daily basis, up to a total of 53 trains per day, including passenger trains.
Without any upgrades on the line, capacity usage may increase up to 92 per cent by 2030. The line between the towns of Boden and Luleå, an extension of the Iron Ore Line, would go over capacity. If the envisioned upgrades are carried out, the Iron Ore Line would be kept at a capacity of approximately 70 per cent, whereas the planned double track between Boden and Luleå would limit usage on that section to 40 per cent.
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