The Iron Ore Line Becomes an International Test Arena for Railway Technology

The Iron Ore Line (Malmbanan) and the Ofoten Line (Ofotbanen) are becoming test arenas for the railway technology of the future. The official launch of the Arctic Test Arena took place on 4–5 November in Narvik.

Approximately 170 participants from 60 different organisations and companies within infrastructure and technology from across Europe gathered as ongoing research projects were showcased and the Arctic Test Arena collaboration platform was inaugurated.

The new Norwegian–Swedish initiative, Arctic Test Arena, strengthens the existing cooperation between authorities, research and industry across borders.

“JVTC has conducted research on the Iron Ore Line for 25 years and sees this collaboration as an important step in ensuring that research results benefit the railway through practical implementation,” says Veronica Jägare, Director of Luleå Railway Research Center (JVTC) at Luleå University of Technology.

With more than 473 kilometres of railway, stretching from the ice-free port of Narvik to Luleå and the industries of Norrbotten, the Ofoten Line and the Iron Ore Line have been a central transport route for Europe’s raw material supply for over a century. An Arctic climate, some of Europe’s heaviest trains, demanding topography and cross-border operations have made the route an optimal test corridor for railway technology for several decades. Extreme weather is typically a challenge for railways, but when testing new technology, large amounts of snow and Arctic cold are actually an advantage.

Testing in extreme climate

The technology being tested today and in the future along this route will contribute to improved operational reliability and efficient maintenance of the railway in northern Europe, and further south as well.

“The challenges posed by heavy traffic in the Arctic environment have continuously forced us to develop new technology and find new solutions. A major modernisation of the Iron Ore Line is currently under way, including a new signalling system, new overhead lines, track replacement and extended passing loops,” says Anders Aabakken, Head of Technology and Environment at the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket).

Research projects

On 4 November, a formal inauguration of the test arena took place at Narvik Railway Station. Participants then boarded a train to Abisko Station. During the journey, they were briefed on ongoing and completed research and innovation projects along the line, such as:

• Projects for monitoring bridges under the unique conditions found along the route.
• How to manage a rapidly changing climate: How are snow galleries monitored and secured in an altered environment?
• Digitalisation: How can fibre-optic technology help monitor both railway infrastructure and rolling stock, detect intrusions, and minimise the consequences of derailments?

On 5 November, a seminar was held at UiT The Arctic University of Norway in Narvik, concluding the inauguration in the afternoon. Veronica Jägare chaired a seminar and panel discussion on lessons learned from the 2023 derailment on the Iron Ore Line.

Arctic Test Arena is a collaboration between Trafikverket, Bane NOR, the Norwegian Railway Directorate, Luleå Railway Research Centre (JVTC) at Luleå University of Technology, Europe’s Rail, SINTEF and UiT The Arctic University of Norway.

• Read more about Luleå Railway Research Center (JVTC)