Cause of Extensive Iron Ore Line Derailment in Northern Sweden Found The Swedish Accident Investigation Authority has found the cause of the December 2023 derailment on the Iron Ore Line, which led to a two-month stop in traffic on the crucial railway line in the north.
Critical of the Swedish Government’s Lack of Investment in the Iron Ore Line The mayor of the Northern Swedish municipality Boden believes the Swedish Government is not taking the further construction of the Iron Ore Line seriously. Sweden recently presented several measures for improving the vital railway but is criticized for not doing enough.
Hard-Packed Snow on the Track Contributed to the Latest Iron Ore Line Derailment According to the Swedish Accident Investigation Authority, hard-packed snow on the track and under the wagons contributed to the derailment of the Iron Ore Line in Northern Sweden in February 2024.
Closer Cooperateon on Transport in the Northern Nordic Region Norway, Sweden, and Finland have established Platform North, a cooperation platform to focus on transport and infrastructure in the Northern Nordic region. "This is a tool to help us reach our joint objectives," says Norwegian Minister of Transport Jon-Ivar Nygård to HNN.
Closer Cooperation on Transport in the Northern Nordic Region Norway, Sweden, and Finland have established Platform North, a cooperation platform to focus on transport and infrastructure in the Northern Nordic region. "This is a tool to help us reach our joint objectives," says Norwegian Minister of Transport Jon-Ivar Nygård to HNN.
Sweden Gives Green Light to Several Railway Projects in the North The Swedish government is giving the green light to start constructing an important railway line in Northern Sweden. In addition, several projects to improve the capacity of the Iron Ore Line are underway. At the same time, the Norwegian Labor Party is proposing the construction of the Northern Norway line.
Former Swedish Minister to Mediate in Iron Ore Line Matter The crucial Iron Ore Line is characterized by low capacity and significant pressure from several actors. Now, the former Swedish Minister of Infrastructure is to find compromises among those who utilize the railway line between Norway and Sweden in the north.
Status Report on the Iron Ore Line Derailment: Could Have Been Caused by Defective Wheel According to a preliminary status report from the Swedish Accident Investigation Authority, a damaged wheel could have contributed to the train derailment on the Iron Ore Line a year ago. The fully loaded train was heading from the northern Swedish city of Kiruna to Narvik when several cars derailed near the Norwegian border.
Nordic Cooperation: Joint Infrastructure Strategy To Support Military Mobility During a joint visit to the NATO exercise Immediate Response in Northern Norway, the ministers of transport in Norway, Sweden, and Finland agreed to strengthen cooperation on border-crossing transport corridors to better ensure military needs.
Iron Ore Line Issues Continue to Impact LKAB: Cut in Production and Other Possible Measures The mining company LKAB in Northern Sweden is now cutting production due to the reduced capacity of the Iron Ore Line. The company believes it might need to take even more drastic measures to limit production, which could lead to a loss of income of around SEK 5 billion annually.
Norwegian Minister of Transport: Expanding Critical Arctic Railroad Bodø (High North News): There have been clear expectations and demands for double tracks on the Ofoten Line between Sweden and Norway in the Norwegian National Transport Plan. On Tuesday, the Norwegian Minister of Transport said three new passing sidings will be built. "It is the road to double tracks," says Jon-Ivar Nygård (Labor).
Norwegian Minister of Transport: Expanding Critical Arctic Railroad Bodø (High North News): There have been clear expectations and demands for double tracks on the Ofoten Line between Sweden and Norway in the Norwegian National Transport Plan. On Tuesday, the Norwegian Minister of Transport said three new passing sidings will be built. "It is the road to double tracks," says Jon-Ivar Nygård (Labor).
Norwegian Minister of Transport: Expanding Critical Arctic Railroad Bodø (High North News): There have been clear expectations and demands for double tracks on the Ofoten Line between Sweden and Norway in the Norwegian National Transport Plan. On Tuesday, the Norwegian Minister of Transport said three new passing sidings will be built. "It is the road to double tracks," says Jon-Ivar Nygård (Labor).
New Iron Ore Line Derailment: Cannot Rule Out Sabotage Days after the opening of the Iron Ore Line, another iron ore train derailed on the railway line between Norway and Sweden in the North. Swedish police have initiated investigations of both incidents and do not rule out sabotage.
Nordic Response Exercise Logistics Impacted as Ofoten Railway Line Remains Closed "The Ofoten Line is important to the Norwegian Armed Forces. Its significance will increase with Sweden and Finland as NATO members," says Chief of Defense Eirik Kristoffersen to High North News.
Yet Another Postponement of Traffic on the Iron Ore Line in Northern Sweden The opening of traffic on the railway line between Kiruna and Narvik has been postponed numerous times since the middle of December. The concluding work on the Iron Ore Line is still affected by cold weather and large amounts of snow, and the Swedish Transport Administration is once again postponing the expected traffic resumption date.
EU Supports Iron Ore Line Projects: Important Upgrades For Civilian and Military Use The European Commission supports several Swedish transport projects, including the Iron Ore Line, with EUR 54 million. The purpose is to upgrade critical transport infrastructure in the EU, which is considered to be of great use for both civilian and defence purposes.
The Iron Ore Line Reopens This Week: LKAB Has Products in Stock Equivalent to 400 Ore Trains The mining company LKAB has iron ore products worth millions on hold after the derailment on the Iron Ore Line. Delivering the products in stock to customers can take several years. "We usually run 10 ore trains a day between Kiruna and Narvik, and when the traffic resumes, these will be used to transport the daily production," says LKAB's Press Manager.
Over 200 000 Tonnes of Seafood Sent Annually via the Ofoten Line: The Derailment Highlights Need for Double Track Significant amounts of seafood are annually transported via railway from Narvik in Northern Norway through Sweden to Oslo. After the Iron Ore Line derailment, trailers have transported the goods to Kiruna. However, if the situation persists and the winter fisheries get in full swing, there might be a lack of available vehicles, says the Deputy Managing Director of the Norwegian Seafood Federation.
Infrastructure for Northern Sweden's Green Shift: Planning Boden-Luleå Double Track The Swedish Transport Administration has secured funds to develop railway plans for a double track between Boden and Luleå in Northern Sweden. The funding for the construction itself has not yet been secured. Still, the Transport Administration is now speeding up the work, which will be important to the major industrial projects planned in the region.
"Ofoten Railway Line Needs a Double Track by 2035" The iron ore train derailment in Northern Sweden brings up the debate about a double track on the Ofoten Line: "What has happened now should be a serious wake-up call for Bane Nor, the Norwegian Railway Directorate, the government, and parliament. The same goes for Swedish authorities. A double track can no longer be postponed," says the mayor of Narvik in Northern Norway.
New Derailment on the Iron Ore Line Between Northern Sweden and Norway An iron ore train has derailed on the Iron Ore Line between Kiruna and Narvik. There are significant damages to the tracks and the overhead line. Therefore, all traffic on the train line north of Kiruna has stopped.
The Train Derailment in Narvik: Hopes to Resume Limited Ore Traffic Shortly Passenger and freight traffic is now running again on the Ofoten Railway in Northern Norway. However, much work remains on the tracks used by the ore trains. The mining company LKAB hopes that they can resume iron ore traffic soon, but to a limited extent.
