An investigation by Elin Nilsson, Sara Oliveira, and Eden Maclachlan.
Malmbanan, one of Sweden’s most important railways, has been neglected for years, causing job losses and financial setbacks for companies in 2024. But there is no other way out: “We have to go via Malmbanan, that’s the only line we have”, says Nils-Johan Haraldsson, chief of logistics at the mining company Kaunis Iron.
Malmbanan is Sweden’s most heavily trafficked railway and is central to its region’s inhabitants, industry, and tourism. On average, 20,000 trains travel on it yearly between Boden and Narvik.
Graph 1: Trains traffic and delays on Malmbanan. Source: Trafikverket. Credit: MIJ6
Data from Trafikverket, shows that delays on Malmbanan have been a constant since 2010, being mostly related to the infrastructure and its lack of capacity. “The problem is the neglected maintenance and that it’s a simple track, as soon as something happens it stops”, says Nils-Johan.
Graph 2: Cause of delays on Malmbanan. Source: Trafikverket. Credit: MIJ6
Last winter, two derailments caused a part of Malmbanan to come to a standstill for a total of 76 days. This, with the bad market for iron ore, affected Kaunis Iron. Nils-Johan states that the money they lost could have been used to survive the tough market situation. Instead, they faced another reality. “In logistics we discontinued 46 positions this year”.
Nils-Johan Haraldsson chief of logistics at Kaunis Iron. Source: Kaunis Iron Press
But they’re not the only company affected by the situation. Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara Aktiebolag (LKAB), a state-owned iron mining company, discloses that they lose 100MSEK per day when the line isn’t operating. Last year, LKAB brought in 7,6BSEK in dividends. Considering the large sum it brings to the states treasury, Lena Goldkuhl (S), chairperson of Boden’s community building board, is frustrated by the lack of investments and says that “instead of us Swedes receiving income that can be used for healthcare, school or elderly care, there will be no income”.
Her thoughts are echoed by Thomas Pettersson, economic historian at Umeå University: “You’d think maybe they could use some of these companies’ revenues to build a better railway.” “If it stops working, they have to close down the mines, because there’s no other way to get this huge amount of iron ore to Luleå and Narvik without Malmbanan”.
Other industries are also affected. Christophe Risenius, marketing director at the tourism destination Lapland Resorts, located near the Norwegian border, says that Malmbanan is important to them. “When there are no trains, we can lose many of our customers and that’s what happened last winter”. The long distances between cities and the weather conditions in the region mean that transport by train is essential. “If there are no transport options, they close the road, there’s no train. We are completely isolated. If there is an accident, we need an emergency service that can come to us. That is why it is important. It’s a security issue”.
“We’ve raised the needs for a long time”
Trafikverket manages the investigations for the government’s future decisions. These can either be done solely by them or under the government’s directive.
“We’ve raised the needs for a long time. I think I’ve been working with this since 2007 and there have always been attempts to describe the maintenance needed. For Malmbanan, it’s also been raised by Trafikverket, but also other actors”, says Nils Ahlm, strategic planner at the administration’s northern region, and adds that they’ve done maintenance work and have future plans.
Nils Ahlm strategic planner at Trafikverket. Source: Trafikverket Press
Graph 3: Investments in Malmbanan have decreased recently. Source: Trafikverket. Credit: MIJ6
Earlier this year, various companies and authorities wrote an open letter to the Swedish and Norwegian governments requiring a double track on Malmbanan. Former infrastructure minister, Tomas Eneroth (S), 2017-2022, remembers that they looked at the track during his time in office.
“It’s the double track that we investigated, but I think it’s quite easy to understand that it’s a considerable cost”. He adds that there is a basis for a political decision to be made. “Politically it’s possible to make decisions. This government can do it at any time if it chooses to prioritize”.
Andreas Carlson (KD), minister of infrastructure, says to MIJ 6 that “Malmbanan is of central importance to businesses and the Swedish economy”. “The government has tasked Trafikverket with prioritizing measures in the current national plan to increase capacity on the railway”, instructing them to also create a plan for a double track between Luleå and Boden.
Andreas Carlson (KD) minister of infrastructure. Source: Kristian Pohl.
The new infrastructure proposition from the government suggests looking into co-financing Malmbanan with private actors. Lena thinks “it’s a bit unclear how much will be invested. It’s important that we as a country invest in upgrading it considering how much revenue it brings to the state”.
Nils-Johan says that Kaunis Iron has “co-financed the road to Malmbanan” and the fact that they should “further co-finance it so new industries can have access to it, may not feel quite right”. “The state may have to take the chance now to enable this green transition and all the new industries to be built in northern Sweden, after all, it is an opportunity that appears every 150 years”.
The new proposition will be revealed in 2026.
We tried reaching LKAB, without success.