Iore

LKAB Malmtrafik
Industry	Rail transport
Predecessor	Norwegian State Railways (NSB), Swedish State Railways (SJ)
Founded	1996
Headquarters	Sweden, Norway
Area served	Northern Sweden and Norway
Products	Iron ore freight transport services
Owner	LKAB

Iore, commonly presented as IORE, represents a fleet of 34 electric locomotives manufactured by Adtranz and later by its successor Bombardier Transportation for the railway division of the Swedish mining firm LKAB, known as Malmtrafik. These locomotives, derived from Adtranz's Octeon modular design and related to Bombardier's subsequent TRAXX series, are among the most powerful in operation globally. They are specifically tasked with hauling iron ore freight along Sweden's Iron Ore Line and Norway's Ofoten Line.

Each train, consisting of 68 wagons and weighing , is propelled by two single-ended Co′Co′ units. Each unit provides continuous power output and tractive effort, enabling a maximum speed of . The first batch of 18 locomotives was delivered between 2000 and 2004, replacing older models such as the Dm3 and El 15. Later acquisitions included eight additional locomotives arranged as four twin sets completed by 2011, followed by another four twin units delivered between 2013 and 2014.

History

The Ofoten Line and Iron Ore Line were constructed to transport iron ore extracted from LKAB’s mines located in Kiruna, Svappavaara, and Malmberget within Sweden to export ports at Luleå on the Baltic Sea and Narvik on the Norwegian Sea. Initially, these routes were operated by Norwegian State Railways (NSB) and Swedish State Railways (SJ). However, in 1996, operations were transferred to Malmtrafik i Kiruna (MTAB), a joint enterprise formed by LKAB, NSB, and SJ, which included its Norwegian branch Malmtrafikk (MTAS). At that time, the locomotive fleet consisted mainly of El 15 and Dm3 models.

In 1998, LKAB forecasted a production increase of iron ore by 35% by 2005 and sought governmental support to upgrade the rail lines from a maximum axle load of 25 tonnes to 30 tonnes. This infrastructure enhancement, estimated to cost NOK 180 million for just the Ofoten Line, along with the introduction of new locomotives, was intended to improve transport efficiency.

In March of that year, LKAB placed an order with South Africa’s Transnet for 750 new hopper cars rated at 100 tonnes. By August, LKAB committed NOK 100 million toward the NOK 130 million required for upgrading the Ofoten Line. Subsequently, on 15 September, LKAB signed a contract with Adtranz Switzerland for the delivery of 18 locomotives. In 1999, LKAB acquired full ownership of MTAB by purchasing shares previously held by SJ and NSB.

The first pair of locomotives arrived in August 2000 and underwent rigorous testing prior to commencing full-scale production. The commissioning phase concluded in December 2000, with regular operations starting in January 2001. By March that year, both new hopper cars and the enhanced axle load capacity were fully implemented. Following Bombardier Transportation’s acquisition of Adtranz in May 2001, they completed all remaining deliveries through 2005. In 2004, rather than ordering more hopper cars from Transnet, LKAB opted to procure an additional 750 heavier cars from K-Industrier.

Since their introduction in 1969, ore trains had been equipped with Soviet SA3 couplers. LKAB experimented with Janney couplers on the initial Iore units due to their widespread use on heavier trains in the United States and South Africa but ultimately reverted to SA3 couplers to maintain compatibility with existing rolling stock. Locomotives fitted with Janney couplers were subsequently modified accordingly. The El 15 units were sold off to Hector Rail in 2004.

On August 23, 2007, LKAB placed an order for four more twin-unit Iore locomotives at a cost of €52 million. These were delivered by 2011, replacing the remaining Dm3 locomotives and extending train lengths up to 68 cars. This upgrade increased annual transport capacity from 28 million tonnes to 33 million tonnes while reducing daily departures from 21 down to 15.

The designation Iore is a blend of "iron ore" and "Eeyore," a character from Winnie-the-Pooh, reflecting the Swedish spelling "I-or."

Specifications

The Iore class represents a robust, heavy-duty electric locomotive designed specifically for cold climates, derived from Adtranz's Octeon modular platform introduced in 1998, which was initially developed for Deutsche Bahn. Final assembly took place in Kassel, Germany, first by Adtranz and subsequently by Bombardier Transportation. Originally labeled as TRAXX H80 AC within Bombardier's TRAXX series, the Iore was separated from the TRAXX lineup starting with the second order batch in 2007. The manufacturer has also referred to this model as Bombardier Kiruna.

Each Iore locomotive is composed of two connected sections, each equipped with a driver's cab at both ends, and typically functions in fixed pairs to haul heavy ore trains. Although capable of operating individually, this configuration is seldom utilized. The locomotives draw power through pantographs, with each bogie fitted with an ABB Camilla series water-cooled gate turn-off (GTO) thyristor converter. This converter technology succeeded older oil-cooled units and was previously implemented in the FS Class E464. These converters are independently operated with dedicated cooling and control systems and are modularized into seven easily replaceable units to reduce maintenance expenses.

The locomotive features six three-phase asynchronous traction motors rated at , arranged in a Co′Co′ wheel setup. It delivers a tractive effort of , with dynamic braking capacity reaching , and includes a temporary boost function that increases traction to . Its maximum speeds are , when running solo; , when empty; and , when fully loaded.

Key dimensions include a total length of , height of , width of , bogie center distance of , and bogie wheelbase of . Wheel diameters vary from new to worn measurements. Each unit weighs , which incorporates worth of electrical components plus an additional dead weight of to optimize axle load distribution. The locomotive’s walls are reinforced with armored steel to enhance resilience against impacts from snowdrifts and wildlife collisions, while flat side panels help minimize accumulation of snow and ice.

The auxiliary power system utilizes a separate transformer winding that feeds three independent insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) converters supplying a three-phase 400-volt electrical system. Designed with an open architecture for flexibility, the system provides diagnostic information accessible to operators and capable of transmission via GSM-R to centralized control centers. The spacious cab accommodates up to three crew members; models from the second production series include upgraded driver seats retrofitted into earlier units. High-current components are secured behind locked panels requiring special keys that enforce grounding procedures to ensure maintenance safety.

Operation

LKAB manages iron ore extraction operations at mines located in Kiruna, Svappavaara, and Malmberget within Norrbotten County, Sweden. The majority of mined ore is transported by rail along the Northern Circuit to the ice-free Port of Narvik, while a smaller quantity is shipped via the Southern Circuit to Luleå. From Luleå, ore is either exported to customers around the Baltic region or supplied directly to furnaces operated by SSAB in Luleå and Oxelösund. The Iron Ore and Ofoten railway lines cover a total distance of , including the Svappavaara branch line; specifically, routes measure between Kiruna and Narvik, and between Malmberget and Luleå. Operations on these lines are overseen by LKAB’s subsidiaries: Malmtrafik i Kiruna (MTAB) in Sweden and Malmtrafikk (MTAS) in Norway.

By 2010, six pairs of first-generation Iore locomotives were responsible for operating between 11 and 13 daily trains each way on the Northern Circuit, while three pairs handled five to six daily trains on the Southern Circuit. Additionally, four pairs from the second production batch were planned to replace Dm3 locomotives on the Northern Circuit by 2011. Trains hauled by Iore units typically consist of 68 cars with a total weight of . Along the stretch between Riksgränsen (the national border) and Narvik, regenerative braking enables trains to recover sufficient energy to power empty return journeys, thereby enhancing operational efficiency.

Although LKAB owns both the trains and hopper cars, ownership of the railway infrastructure lies with the Swedish Transport Administration and Bane NOR. Besides transporting minerals, the Iron Ore and Ofoten Lines also support passenger services and container freight traffic, facilitating diverse logistics operations beyond ore transport.

External links

History

Specifications

Operation

See also

External links