The incident has led to a suspension of operations on the Ore Railway (Malmbanan), with initial estimates by the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) suggesting a resumption of services by late December, later revised to early January.
The derailment occurred as the train entered a snow shed, designed to shield the track from snow. Several railcars at the front and rear of the train remained on the track, while others inside the snow shed were derailed. No injuries were reported among the personnel on board.
Linda Bjurholt, Logistics Manager at LKAB, highlighted the financial impact of the disruption, noting the significant revenue loss for each day of non-operation. She expressed concern over the possibility of a production shutdown in Kiruna if the disruption continues.
The Swedish Accident Investigation Authority (Haverikommissionen) may be involved in the investigation, which has restricted LKAB's access to the accident site. As a result, a detailed forecast of the outcome is pending. The cause of the derailment remains undetermined.
Bjurholt also mentioned ongoing assessments of the impact on deliveries and production, acknowledging limitations in stockpiling capacity. She emphasized collaboration with Trafikverket in resolving the situation.
The Kiruna-Narvik section of the railway, with ten fully loaded trains daily, is responsible for about two-thirds of LKAB’s iron ore deliveries. An additional four to five trains operate daily on the Gällivare-Luleå southern circuit. Current limitations do not allow for compensating the shortfall by increasing haulage to Luleå.
