Sjisjka

Sjisjka, (Swedish) also spelt Sjiska or Šišká (North Sami) , is a railway stop on the Swedish section of the Malmbanan between Gällivare and Kiruna.

The stop is located approximately 20 km south of Kiruna, between Kalixforsbron and Kaitum, at a tiny village with about eight buildings.

Banverket — Malmbanan
473 Narvik
463 Straumsnes
455 Rombak
446 Katterat
440 Søsterbekk
435 Bjørnfjell
Sweden / Norway border
433 Riksgränsen
430 Katterjåkk
426 Vassijaure
423 Låktatjåkka
415 Kopperåsen
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 lokbangård
305 Kiruna malmbangård
304 Kiruna Central
to Svappavaarabanan
297 Råtsi
290 Kalixfors
283 Gäddmyr
276 Sjisjka
272 Lappberg
265 Kaitum
262 Fjallåsen
249 Harrå
237 Håmojåkk
227 Linaälv
214 Sikträsk
to Vitåforsbanan
to Inlandsbanan
204 Gällivare
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 Säväst
19 Norra Sunderbyn
14 Sunderbyn Sjukhus
9 Gammelstan
to Karlsvikshyttan
5 Notviken
0 Luleå
Luleå ore docks

Contents

Nature reserve

Taking the train to Sjisjka is the only way to enter the Kaitum fjällurskogs naturreservat (nature reserve) apart from hiking or skiing.[1] A footpath leads west from Sjisjka to Tjåurek and from there one can go on to Nikkaluokta, Laukkuluspa, Holmajärvi, Liettik or to Kaitum, which is slightly south of Sjisjka at the railway.[2] There is no road to the railway station or the village. The nearest roads are in Kaitum and Kalixforsbron, each about 10 km away. About 11 km west of Sjisjka railway stop is the Sjisjka-ape mire (also spelt Šiškká-ahpi).[3] A hill with the same name as the railway stop is situated between the mire and the railway station.

History

Sjisjka was the place where Sami artist Nils Nilsson Skum lived.[4] Among the reasons that the railroad company, Statens Järnvägar, built a railway stop there was the fact that the artist lived there. Another reason was that it was the only place where the railway's initials, SJ, occur twice in the place's name.[5]

Rail traffic

The railway traffic between Luleå/Boden and Kiruna is now run by SJ. Out of the three passenger trains passing Sjisjka each day in each direction, only one stops in each direction: the first morning train in the southerly direction and the last evening train in the northerly direction.[6]

Wind park

In 2004, the energy company Vindkompaniet i Kiruna (wind company in Kiruna) filed a request to build 30 wind turbines on the Sjisjka hill near the railway stop.

The company Vindkompaniet i Kiruna wants to build windmills on a hill immediately west of Sjisjka.[5] Originally, the plan was to build a road track from Kaitum to Sjisjka, parallel to the railway line, but this plan faced considerable criticism.[7] In the new plan, the windmills are to be transported to Lappberg, and the length of the road is much smaller. This plan was approved by Miljödomstolen in 2007;[8] the final decision to build it was taken in December 2007.[9] As of spring 2011, they are not built yet, but there are plans to build them during 2012[10].

Sources

External links