Malmbanan

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Route of the Malmbanan from Luleå to Narvik.

IORE approaching Kiruna

Malmbanan is a railway line between Luleå and Narvik. The part of the line thats on Norwegian territory between Narvik and Riksgränsen is called Ofotbanen. The line is used by the mining company LKAB to transport their Iron ore from the mines in Kiruna and Malmberget to the ports in Narvik and Luleå. The railway allows 8600 tonnes train weight and 30 tonnes axle weight. Both figures are higher than any other Scandinavian railway.

[edit] History

The stretch between Gällivare and Luleå was inaugurated in 1888 and the last stretch between Kiruna and Narvik was officially inaugurated by King Oscar II July 14, 1903. The stretch between Kiruna and Riksgränsen was the first major railway line in Sweden to be electrified in 1915.

[edit] Locomotives

To cope with the heavy ore transports this line was first equipped with the most powerful steam locomotives in Sweden and later powerful electric locomotives, the most famous being the Dm+Dm3+Dm that today are being replaced with modern IORE locomotives after serving on the line for over 40 years.