Iron Ore Line

Iron Ore Line
A Malmtrafik Iore-hauled train at Torneträsk
Overview
Native nameMalmbanan
OwnerSwedish Transport Administration
LocaleNorrbotten County, Sweden
Termini
Service
TypeRailway
SystemSwedish railway network
Operator(s)Malmtrafik
CargoNet
Vy Tåg
History
Opened1888
Technical
Line length398 km (247 mi)
Number of tracksSingle
CharacterPassenger and freight
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification15 kV  16.7 Hz AC
Operating speed
  • Passenger:
  • 135 km/h (85 mph)
  • Freight (Empty):
  • 70 km/h (43 mph)
  • Freight (Loaded):
  • 60 km/h (37 mph)
Highest elevation540 m (1,770 ft)
Route map

For details on the Norwegian side, see Ofoten Line

473
Narvik
463
Straumsnes
455
Rombak
446
Katterat
440
Søsterbekk
435
Bjørnfjell
Sweden
Norway
433
Riksgränsen
430
Katterjåkk
426
Vassijaure
423
Låktatjåkka
415
Kopparåsen
406
Björkliden
399
Abisko turiststation
397
Abisko Östra
388
Stordalen
375
Kaisepakte
365
Stenbacken
355
Torneträsk
345
Bergfors
336
Rensjön
325
Rautas
315
Krokvik
306
Kiruna depot
305
Kiruna iron ore yard
304
Kiruna Central
to
Svappavaarabanan
297
Råtsi
290
Kalixfors
283
Gäddmyr
276
Sjisjka
272
Lappberg
265
Kaitum
262
Fjällåsen
249
Harrå
237
Håmojåkk
227
Linaälv
214
Sikträsk
to
Vitåforsbanan
to
Inlandsbanan
204
Gällivare
to
Aitik
191
Harrträsk
184
Ripats
173
Nuortikon
166
Kilvo
156
Nattavaara
144
Koskivaara
134
Polcirkeln
123
Murjek
107
Näsberg
95
Lakaträsk
85
Gullträsk
75
Sandträsk
67
Gransjö
54
Ljuså
44
Holmfors
to
Haparandabanan
40
Buddbyn
37
Boden avoiding line
36
Boden Central
to
Stambanan genom övre Norrland
3
Boden avoiding line
28
Sävast
19
Norra Sunderbyn
14
Sunderbyns Sjukhus
9
Gammelstan
to
Karlsvikshyttan
5
Notviken
0
Luleå
Luleå ore docks

The Iron Ore Line (Swedish: Malmbanan) is a 398-kilometre (247 mi) long railway line between Riksgränsen and Boden in Norrbotten County, Sweden, owned by Trafikverket (the Swedish Transport Administration). The line also contains two branches, from Kiruna to Svappavaara and from Gällivare to Koskullskulle. The term is often colloquially used to also include the Ofoten Line, from Riksgränsen to Narvik in Norway, and the northernmost part of the Main Line Through Upper Norrland from Boden to Luleå. The railway from Narvik to Luleå is 473 kilometres (294 mi) long.[1]

The line is dominated by the 8,600-tonne (8,500-long-ton; 9,500-short-ton) ore freight trains operated by LKAB's subsidiary Malmtrafik from their mines to the Port of Narvik and the Port of Luleå. In addition, Vy Tåg operates passenger trains and CargoNet operates container freight trains. The Iron Ore Line is single track, electrified at 15 kV  16.7 Hz AC and has a permitted axle load of 30 tonnes (30 long tons; 33 short tons). The Swedish part of the line is the northernmost railway in Sweden and the Norwegian part outside Narvik is the northernmost railway in the whole of Western Europe at 68.452°N.

The first section of the line, from Gällivare to Luleå, opened in 1888. By 1899, the line was extended to Kiruna, and from 1903, all the way to Narvik. Electrification took place between 1915 and 1923. Operations of the ore trains was taken over by Malmtrafik from SJ in 1996.

Rockfalls from mountains have at times hit the line.[2]

  1. ^ "Malmbanan" (in Swedish). Järnväg.net. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  2. ^ Rudberg, Sten (1997). "Sweden". In Embleton, C.; Embleton-Hamann, C. (eds.). Geomorphological Hazards of Europe. Elsevier. p. 457. ISBN 9780444888242.