Ofoten Line and Iron Ore Line

A loaded iron ore train from Kiruna in Swedish Lapland over the border mountains to the ice-free port of Narvik, high above the fjord, filmed from the cab.

The route

This railway exists to move iron ore. The mines at Kiruna and Gällivare lie far inland in northern Sweden, and the shortest way to an ice-free harbour is west over the mountains to Narvik in Norway. The Swedish part, Malmbanan or the Iron Ore Line, runs down to Luleå on the Baltic; the Norwegian part, the 43 km Ofoten Line, runs from the border at Riksgränsen to Narvik. Construction began in 1898, more than 5,000 people worked on it at the peak, and the Ofoten Line opened in 1902.

The section from Kiruna to the border was electrified in 1915, early for a line this remote, and the Ofoten Line followed in 1923. On the Norwegian side the track is cut into steep mountainsides, reaching 513 m near the border before dropping to sea level at Narvik. The Norddal bridge was deliberately built longer than needed for military reasons; it was blown up in 1940 during the battles for Narvik, but poorly, and the Germans repaired it.

Ore still dominates. Malmtrafik runs up to twelve ore trains a day on the Ofoten Line, each typically 68 wagons and about 8,600 tonnes, among the heaviest trains in Europe. CargoNet runs container trains to Narvik, and a small number of passenger trains share the single track.

What you will see

The train in this video is lighter than usual: two Bombardier TRAXX locomotives with eighteen loaded hoppers, about 4,400 tonnes in all. It sets off from Pitkäjärvi near Kiruna through low birch forest and bog, with fells rising to the west. As the line heads north-west it reaches the long shore of Torneträsk, a lake of about 330 km², and follows it for a long stretch towards Abisko.

Past Abisko the mountains close in. The line runs through a tunnel under Nuolja and on past Björkliden, then climbs to Riksgränsen, Sweden's northernmost ski resort, right at the border. A few minutes later comes Bjørnfjell, the first Norwegian station and the highest point of the Ofoten Line, in bare, rocky terrain.

The descent to Narvik is the reason people watch this line. The track hangs on the mountainside high above the Rombaksfjord, passing Katterat and threading a string of tunnels, with long drops to the water between them. Look out for the Norddal bridge, now kept as a cultural monument. The final stretch curves round towards the ore harbour at Narvik, where the cargo is unloaded for shipping.

Riding it for real

Passenger trains run from Stockholm, Luleå and Kiruna to Narvik, including an overnight train from Stockholm; the operator of these services has changed in recent years, so check the current one before booking. Kiruna to Narvik takes about three hours, and stations such as Abisko, Björkliden and Riksgränsen are popular stops for hiking and the northern lights. On the Norwegian side, seasonal tourist trains run between Narvik and Bjørnfjell.

Sit on the right-hand side heading towards Narvik for the fjord views on the descent. Check the operator for current timetables and fares, and allow for delays: freight has priority on much of this single-track line.

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