“We need an infrastructure we can trust – today and tomorrow”
The situation on the Malmbanan and Ofotenbanen lines on the Norwegian side of the border has become unsustainable. Now over 60 actors in Sweden and Norway have come together to demand joint action from the countries' governments. Region Norrbotten is one of them. – It is no longer enough to patch and repair, says regional councilor Anders Öberg.
The devastating derailment at Vassijaure before Christmas is not even the latest example of disruption, but it highlights the enormous consequences of the lack of maintenance and capacity on the Malmbanan railway. The 65-day stoppage cost several billion kronor and caused a huge stock that will take many years to ship to customers.
On the same day that traffic resumed, another derailment hit Kaunis Iron in Narvik. And five days after ore trains started rolling past Vassijaure again, there was a new derailment at about the same location. Passenger traffic, so important to the tourism industry, did not even have time to receive a notification when it could resume. STF Abisko tourist station alone has so far received cancellations worth over three million kronor.
– This situation risks occurring again and again. The Malmbanan/Ofotenbanen is critical infrastructure and patching and repairing is no longer enough. Double tracks are required, but also expanded or extended meeting tracks would make a significant difference, says Anders Öberg, chairman of the regional board in Norrbotten.
Anders Öberg, regional councilor (S). Photo: Simon Eliasson.
Devastating consequences
Disruptions of other kinds are unfortunately a part of everyday life for everyone who depends on traffic. If it is not a complete stop, it is other kinds of disruptions, such as reduced speed.
All of these disruptions affect businesses and their customers, societal functions, raw material supplies, preparedness and defense capabilities. Freight and passenger traffic are pitted against each other when capacity is extremely limited. This affects strong and growing industries that depend on passenger traffic, such as the hospitality industry. The consequences of decades of lack of maintenance and investment are well on their way to becoming devastating.
– This is unsustainable. We need an infrastructure we can rely on, today and tomorrow. And the already planned efforts will not be enough in the long run. The capacity shortages will only increase in the coming years, says Anders Öberg.
The Swedish Accident Investigation Board is investigating the latest derailment. Weather conditions with snow and ice on the tracks are a theory that has been put forward. Photo: LKAB
60 actors working together
The letter urges the Swedish and Norwegian governments to take a holistic approach, act forcefully together, and coordinate maintenance and investments between the countries.
Behind the letter are actors such as the Norrbotten Chamber of Commerce, LKAB, H2 Green Steel, Swedish Lapland Visitors Board, Volvo, Scania, SSAB, Kaunis Iron, Vy tåg, DB Schenker, Coop Norge, Narvik Havn and the county municipalities of Troms, Nordland and Finnmark. And then Region Norrbotten. A total of around 60 actors who are all negatively affected by the situation on the Malmbanan/Ofotbanen.
There are no alternative modes of transport for heavy goods. If the railways are not double-tracked, there is an imminent risk that planned industrial establishments will not be able to take place. This will reduce the competitiveness of our countries, with consequences for both GDP and welfare.
“Deprived for decades”
– Norrbotten has 91 percent of Europe's iron ore, but if it cannot be transported to customers, it is worthless. It is not just Sweden's, but the entire EU's supply of iron ore and steel that is threatened by the fact that the Malmbanan railway has been neglected for decades, says Anders Öberg.
For light goods, mail, groceries and important passenger traffic, there are many negative consequences of moving to the road network, such as traffic safety and strain on the environment and climate.
– The Ore Railway was built under difficult conditions, in roadless land, at the end of the 1800th century. It was a huge investment, a mega-project, proof of the foresight and determination of that time. The Ore Railway has paid for itself a hundred times over since then and contributed to building Swedish prosperity. This is what is now at stake. We want to see Sweden show the same determination again, says Anders Öberg.
FACTS: The Ore Line
The Malmbanan is an approximately 500 kilometer long railway line that runs between Narvik and Luleå. The part that runs in Norway between Riksgränsen and Narvik is officially not called the Malmbanan but the Ofotbanen. The part between Boden and Luleå formally belongs to the Main Line through upper Norrland.
Text: Sara Stylbäck Vesa
