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  3. since I'm now sitting here, waiting for my train, let me tell you the story of Kiruna, LKAB, and the iron ore line - and how these three are actually all just different parts of the same, one story.

since I'm now sitting here, waiting for my train, let me tell you the story of Kiruna, LKAB, and the iron ore line - and how these three are actually all just different parts of the same, one story.

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  • darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.net

    The Ore Line, and its continuation as the Ofoten Line on the Norwegian side, is itself odd enough - ending in the northernmost standard gauge station in the world, the northernmost station in Norway, and well and truly removed from the entire rest of the Norwegian rail network. In practical terms, it basically exists solely to serve ore trains from Sweden, in service of the LKAB mines in Norrbotten County - first and foremost, the one in Kiruna. At the same time, these mines wouldn't exist in the way and at the scale they do today if it weren't for that line.

    darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD This user is from outside of this forum
    darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD This user is from outside of this forum
    darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.net
    wrote last edited by
    #3

    The Kiruna mine's scale is hard to comprehend even as you're basically standing next to it. The LKAB ore mines collectively supply 80% of the EU's iron ore, and Kiruna is the largest one in the world. It dwarfs the town that sprung up to operate it. Look at a satellite view, and you won't actually comprehend just how big it is. Look down a street in Kiruna in the right direction, and it seems as if it's right there. It's not, but it's so big that even in person, without the forced perspective of a photo, it seems it.

    darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD 1 Reply Last reply
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    • darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.net

      The Kiruna mine's scale is hard to comprehend even as you're basically standing next to it. The LKAB ore mines collectively supply 80% of the EU's iron ore, and Kiruna is the largest one in the world. It dwarfs the town that sprung up to operate it. Look at a satellite view, and you won't actually comprehend just how big it is. Look down a street in Kiruna in the right direction, and it seems as if it's right there. It's not, but it's so big that even in person, without the forced perspective of a photo, it seems it.

      darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD This user is from outside of this forum
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      darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.net
      wrote last edited by
      #4

      This mine produces a little under 27 million tonnes of ore every year, most of it shipped through the ice free port of Narvik. Since its opening in the early 20th century, it has produced nearly a billion tonnes of ore. Its operator, LKAB, has been 100% owned by the Swedish state since the 1950s.

      darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD 1 Reply Last reply
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      • magiclike@soc.sekundenklebertransportverbot.deM magiclike@soc.sekundenklebertransportverbot.de shared this topic
      • darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.net

        This mine produces a little under 27 million tonnes of ore every year, most of it shipped through the ice free port of Narvik. Since its opening in the early 20th century, it has produced nearly a billion tonnes of ore. Its operator, LKAB, has been 100% owned by the Swedish state since the 1950s.

        darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD This user is from outside of this forum
        darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD This user is from outside of this forum
        darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.net
        wrote last edited by
        #5

        To facilitate the movement of this much ore, massive ore trains are run, making up the vast majority of operations on the line. Every day, they run 11 to 13 ore trains, each with a weight of up to 8,600 tonnes, 68 cars and 750m long. They are hauled by IORE - double unit electric locomotives purpose made for this line, providing up to 700kN of tractive effort, making them some of the most powerful locomotives in the world.

        darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD 1 Reply Last reply
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        • darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.net

          To facilitate the movement of this much ore, massive ore trains are run, making up the vast majority of operations on the line. Every day, they run 11 to 13 ore trains, each with a weight of up to 8,600 tonnes, 68 cars and 750m long. They are hauled by IORE - double unit electric locomotives purpose made for this line, providing up to 700kN of tractive effort, making them some of the most powerful locomotives in the world.

          darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD This user is from outside of this forum
          darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD This user is from outside of this forum
          darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.net
          wrote last edited by
          #6

          The provisional railway station is actually a lone platform adjacent to one of the freight yards, giving you an even better view of the scale of the operation from there as you arrive or depart.

          darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD 1 Reply Last reply
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          • darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.net

            The provisional railway station is actually a lone platform adjacent to one of the freight yards, giving you an even better view of the scale of the operation from there as you arrive or depart.

            darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD This user is from outside of this forum
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            darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.net
            wrote last edited by
            #7

            This line was built and is still owned by the respective railway infrastructure companies of Sweden and Norway. It runs between two and three passenger services a day, including a night train that continues on to Stockholm. These trains, however, require a lot of slack in their timetables as the line is entirely single track and they will commonly need to stop to let freight trains pass.

            darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD 1 Reply Last reply
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            • darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.net

              This line was built and is still owned by the respective railway infrastructure companies of Sweden and Norway. It runs between two and three passenger services a day, including a night train that continues on to Stockholm. These trains, however, require a lot of slack in their timetables as the line is entirely single track and they will commonly need to stop to let freight trains pass.

              darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD This user is from outside of this forum
              darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD This user is from outside of this forum
              darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.net
              wrote last edited by
              #8

              The ore trains actually regenerate about five times the energy they use on the Norwegian part of the line - enough to power the empty trains going back up.

              darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD 1 Reply Last reply
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              • darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.net

                The ore trains actually regenerate about five times the energy they use on the Norwegian part of the line - enough to power the empty trains going back up.

                darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD This user is from outside of this forum
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                darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.net
                wrote last edited by
                #9

                Besides these regional services and the ore trains, a service called the Arctic Rail Express also runs here - it is a 27h direct service - the longest nonstop freight train in the world, only stopping for crew changes - running without service stop between Oslo and Narvik, transiting through Sweden. It has somewhat displaced previous freight services running on rail from Oslo to Bodø, the northernmost point reachable by rail, and then transferring to a ship.

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                • darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.net

                  Besides these regional services and the ore trains, a service called the Arctic Rail Express also runs here - it is a 27h direct service - the longest nonstop freight train in the world, only stopping for crew changes - running without service stop between Oslo and Narvik, transiting through Sweden. It has somewhat displaced previous freight services running on rail from Oslo to Bodø, the northernmost point reachable by rail, and then transferring to a ship.

                  darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD This user is from outside of this forum
                  darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD This user is from outside of this forum
                  darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.net
                  wrote last edited by
                  #10

                  However, the largest chunk of the operations on this line is the ore trains. These used to be pulled by NSB and SJ in cooperation; however, while SJ was willing to negotiate and drop prices for freight haulage, NSB was not, enjoying a 50% profit margin for profits of 60 to 70 million NOK on this line. LKAB initially threatened to move more shipping to the port of Lulea, but eventually decided to attempt to take over operations entirely.
                  With this threat, initially further price decreases were offered, and simultaneously Norway attempted multiple times to prevent their use of the line by means of regulation. however, due to Norway's EEA membership and open access rules established through it, LKAB was eventually able to force the establishment of a joint venture, owned 51% by LKAB and 24.5% by NSB and SJ respectively. LKAB would eventually go on to buy out the other members of the venture and transform it into a direct subsidiary, which operates the ore trains to this day.

                  magiclike@soc.sekundenklebertransportverbot.deM darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD 2 Replies Last reply
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                  • darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.net

                    However, the largest chunk of the operations on this line is the ore trains. These used to be pulled by NSB and SJ in cooperation; however, while SJ was willing to negotiate and drop prices for freight haulage, NSB was not, enjoying a 50% profit margin for profits of 60 to 70 million NOK on this line. LKAB initially threatened to move more shipping to the port of Lulea, but eventually decided to attempt to take over operations entirely.
                    With this threat, initially further price decreases were offered, and simultaneously Norway attempted multiple times to prevent their use of the line by means of regulation. however, due to Norway's EEA membership and open access rules established through it, LKAB was eventually able to force the establishment of a joint venture, owned 51% by LKAB and 24.5% by NSB and SJ respectively. LKAB would eventually go on to buy out the other members of the venture and transform it into a direct subsidiary, which operates the ore trains to this day.

                    magiclike@soc.sekundenklebertransportverbot.deM This user is from outside of this forum
                    magiclike@soc.sekundenklebertransportverbot.deM This user is from outside of this forum
                    magiclike@soc.sekundenklebertransportverbot.de
                    wrote last edited by
                    #11

                    @darkphoenix did you know that you are a heccin' nerd? :3c /pos

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                    • darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.net

                      However, the largest chunk of the operations on this line is the ore trains. These used to be pulled by NSB and SJ in cooperation; however, while SJ was willing to negotiate and drop prices for freight haulage, NSB was not, enjoying a 50% profit margin for profits of 60 to 70 million NOK on this line. LKAB initially threatened to move more shipping to the port of Lulea, but eventually decided to attempt to take over operations entirely.
                      With this threat, initially further price decreases were offered, and simultaneously Norway attempted multiple times to prevent their use of the line by means of regulation. however, due to Norway's EEA membership and open access rules established through it, LKAB was eventually able to force the establishment of a joint venture, owned 51% by LKAB and 24.5% by NSB and SJ respectively. LKAB would eventually go on to buy out the other members of the venture and transform it into a direct subsidiary, which operates the ore trains to this day.

                      darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD This user is from outside of this forum
                      darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD This user is from outside of this forum
                      darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.net
                      wrote last edited by
                      #12

                      The century-long mining operations have also caused subsistence in parts of the old town - because of this, the town of Kiruna is actually slowly moving, establishing a new center a few km east of the old location. As part of this, several historic buildings like the church seen in the earlier picture will actually be moved intact to the new center.

                      darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD 1 Reply Last reply
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                      • darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.net

                        The century-long mining operations have also caused subsistence in parts of the old town - because of this, the town of Kiruna is actually slowly moving, establishing a new center a few km east of the old location. As part of this, several historic buildings like the church seen in the earlier picture will actually be moved intact to the new center.

                        darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD This user is from outside of this forum
                        darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD This user is from outside of this forum
                        darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.net
                        wrote last edited by
                        #13

                        This is, however, not without opposition - the local Sami fear further disruption to their reindeer herding routes, which have already been altered due to the mine and rail line. They are apparently being heard more than they were when the mine was first established, but it seems unlikely they will have much influence on the outcome of this move.

                        Additionally, LKAB, as the landlord of the people being relocated, will increase their rents in steps over the next years, to a maximum increase of 25%, in order to "finance the renewal of the 1960s era housing stock" and the costs of the move in general.

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                        • darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.net

                          This is, however, not without opposition - the local Sami fear further disruption to their reindeer herding routes, which have already been altered due to the mine and rail line. They are apparently being heard more than they were when the mine was first established, but it seems unlikely they will have much influence on the outcome of this move.

                          Additionally, LKAB, as the landlord of the people being relocated, will increase their rents in steps over the next years, to a maximum increase of 25%, in order to "finance the renewal of the 1960s era housing stock" and the costs of the move in general.

                          darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD This user is from outside of this forum
                          darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.netD This user is from outside of this forum
                          darkphoenix@not.an.evilcyberhacker.net
                          wrote last edited by
                          #14

                          my train is pulling out of the station, through more of the mining area, so I'll just leave you with these pictures.
                          I kind of. don't have a satisfying ending here? This place is
                          fascinating, and the story of it, the mine, the region, and the rail line are far more intertwined than it might at first seem, and there's all sorts of good and bad to it. Like it or not, this is what EU resource independence looks like - they're actually going to be mining rare earths here as well in future, supposedly, and they're attempting to be more sustainable in using hydrogen for the further processing of the iron - but at the same time, there is massive disruption to the direct environment, and this state owned company is doing massively capitalist things, and while the rail line might be state owned in practice the two states involved will perform and at least partially pay for any upgrade LKAB demands. And yet.

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