For the third time in approximately half a year, a train has derailed on the Swedish Malmbanan, or Iron Ore Line. The incident likely took place during a track switch and involves a train carrying iron ore. Sweden is not excluding any possible cause as of yet.
The iron ore train derailed close to Ripats, between Gällivare and Boden. The Malmbanan is closed for traffic at the moment. It is unclear whether or not there is any damage to the rail infrastructure and how long the downtime will last, but the line could reportedly be open for traffic again by 18:00 Swedish time. The Swedish transport administration says that they are still on their way to investigate the site.
At the same time, the transport administration explains to RailFreight.com that they are not excluding any explanation for the derailment. “We are looking at every scenario and possible cause”, says a spokesperson.
A vital rail line
Earlier, two trains on the Iron Ore Line derailed in short succession in late 2023 and early 2024. The route was closed for traffic for approximately three months.
The two earlier derailments caused some suspicion to arise about possible sabotage by Sweden’s adversaries. Sweden never identified a definitive cause, however.
The Iron Ore Line is a vital piece of rail infrastructure. It provides transport avenues for some of Europe’s largest mines. It also is a key piece of military infrastructure, especially since Sweden’s accession to NATO. Sweden will be upgrading the line in the coming years to grow its capacity.
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