Heavier trains Iron Ore Line

iore locomotive near kiruna

malmtrafik took on operations 1 july 1996. company bought dm3-locomotives sj, nsb s 6 el 15 locomotives, , number of workshops, depots , shunters. post-nationalization, became first private railway company in europe haul international freight trains. 26 september 27 october, 200 employees in narvik on strike regarding transition rules employees. while strike lasted, there increased shipments luleå. in november, new ore port in luleå opened, having cost lkab more half billion swedish kronor , capacity of 6 million tonnes of ore per year.

in 1998, lkab estimated gradual 35% increase in production until 2005, , demanded track owners grant sufficient funding upgrade lines 25-tonne (25-long-ton; 28-short-ton) 30-tonne (30-long-ton; 33-short-ton) maximum permitted axle load. combined new locomotives, give increased efficiency in hauling ore. upgrade ofoten line cost 180 million norwegian krone, , allow lkab increase train weight 4,100 8,600 tonnes (4,000 8,500 long tons; 4,500 9,500 short tons). in addition, heavier trains have longer, sufficient passing loops have upgraded 790 metres (2,590 ft).

in march, lkab awarded contract build 750 new 100-tonne hopper cars transnet of south africa, after among others norsk verkstedindustri had been considered. in august, agreement reached whereby lkab pay nok 100 million of nok 130 million needed upgrade ofoten line. contract deliver 18 iore locomotives signed bombardier on 15 september 1998. lkab bought sj , nsb s share of mtab in 1999, making mtab subsidiary.

the first twin unit locomotive delivered in 2000, , serial delivery made 2002 2004. in march 2004, lkab decided not purchase option additional hopper cars transnet, , instead purchase 750 heavier cars k-industrier. since 1969 ore trains have been using soviet sa3 coupler. however, lkab wanted try janney couplers (also known aar coupler, used in heavier trains in usa , south africa), sa3 couplers not tested new weights. later lkab went sa3 couplers used on ore trains. in 2003, iron ore line kiruna riksgränsen , ofoten line finished upgraded 30 tonne axle load, allowing half trains operate maximum capacity.

the northern east west freight corridor initiative international union of railways aiming establish freight corridor far east north america. route use ofoten line , transship rail ship @ narvik. main report project made in 2004, since there had been limited funding project.

on 23 august 2007, lkab ordered 4 twin units, delivery in 2010 , 2011, , costing €52 million. replace remaining dm3. after delivery, 6 locomotives used kiruna luleå, , twenty used kiruna narvik. 2009, sufficient passing loops had been built along whole line narvik luleå allow trains operate full capacity. 2011, lkab s able replace dm3, , convert ore trains 68 cars. increase capacity 28 33 million tonnes per year, , @ same time reduce number of departures per day 21 15.

a managed ore train going downhill may have electricity consumption of around 0 due regenerative braking.