The Ofot Line connects the Norwegian port of Narvik with the Swedish Iron Ore Line. The line is now being upgraded to accommodate longer and heavier freight trains facilitating the transport of military equipment and personnel.
The main upgrade on the Ofot Line will concern improving the freight terminal and the station in Narvik, implementing new and longer sidings and increasing the axle load to 32.5 tonnes. These projects are expected to improve connectivity to the port of Narvik, a key NATO logistics hub especially since Sweden and Finland joined the alliance.
“The Ofot Line looks set to become even more important in the years to come, not least in light of the increasing defense cooperation under NATO auspices”, the Norwegian Railways Directorate (Jernbanedirektoratet) highlighted. A stronger Europe, under a military perspective, became a priority in the Union since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The upgrades
Concerning the Narvik rail freight terminal, a first 50% capacity increase was implemented in 2022. “There are plans to expand and develop the terminal area in Narvik even further”, the Jernbanedirektoratet specified. The upgrade here will specifically keep military mobility needs into account.
For the Narvik station, the plan entails the addition of separate tracks at the entrance of Narvik so that LKAB’s iron ore trains can travel on a ‘private’ section. This new bundle will also allow for the transit of 740-metre trains. To increase the axle load from 31 to 32.5 tonnes, the sleepers will be replaced with concrete ones, with tests underway for sleepers made of composite.
Benefits for LKAB
Improving the Ofot Line should also bring development for the transport of iron ore and LKAB, Europe’s largest mining company. LKAB sends some of its ore mined in Kiruna, Sweden, to the port of Narvik along the northern branch of the Iron Ore Line. However, the state of the line has been a problem for the mining giant for a few years now, even leading to the closure of some mines.
The improvements planned in Norway will increase available capacity and axle load, meaning the more and heavier trains can be deployed. In theory, this will create a better infrastructure for LKAB. Sweden is also working on improving the Iron Ore Line, which over the past couple of years saw multiple derailments leading to long closures and the aforementioned problems for LKAB.
Doubling trains to Oslo
Other than benefitting NATO flows and iron ore traffic between Narvik and Sweden, the initiative will provide additional capacity along the Narvik–Oslo axis, the Norwegian Railways Directorate added. “The plan is that it will be possible to run as many as six pairs of trains, each 740 meters long, daily between Oslo and Narvik. This will mean more than a doubling compared to today”, the institution said.