New derailment on Malmbanan

It had not even been five days since the ore traffic started after the more than two months long stop after the derailment on the Iron Ore Line, Malmbanan, in December. On Saturday, a loaded ore train derailed just north of the place near Vassijaure where the last accident occurred. (Updated)

A six-kilometer stretch of track is now damaged. The Swedish Transport Administration is working to assess the extent of the damage.

"What we know at the moment is that we have damage to the railway system on a section between Katterjokk and Vassijaure. So not on the part that we have restored during the last two months. We have found damage to the rails, sleepers and overhead line," said Simon Sunna, section manager for railways at the Swedish Transport Administration, in a press release after the accident.

The accident was first investigated as suspected sabotage, which is done as a routine measure in major events of this kind. There are no suspects. It is now being assessed as an accident.

Kaunis Iron in Pajala has stopped transporting ore after the new stoppage. LKAB calls the logistics on the Malmbanan an emergency situation.

"We have gone from a critical situation to an emergency situation regarding the logistics on the Malmbanan with both short-term and long-term strategic challenges that land here and now," says Niklas Johansson, director of climate and information at LKAB, to Dagens Industri.

The train stop is also serious for the tourism industry. The Swedish Tourist Association, which has a facility in Abisko, expects a reduction in the number of guests by 15-20 percent. The first long train stop has cost the tourist organization SEK 3 million in lost revenue.

The Swedish Transport Administration has not yet announced a forecast for when traffic can be resumed. The Accident Commission will first complete its investigation, then the Swedish Transport Administration will examine the damage. It will then be possible to make a forecast.

Lennart Håkansson

editor@northswedenbusiness.com