SWEDISH mining company LKAB has appointed specialist global engineering and technology consultancy Vysus Group (formerly LR Energy) to support the modernisation of 18 of its fleet of 34 5.4MW IORE locomotives built by Bombardier, which use the Ore Line in northern Sweden and Norway year-round. 

The one-year contract, worth a six-figure sum, was awarded to Vysus Group in November 2020 and includes options to extend up until 2026, with the project expected to take up to six years to complete. 

Vysus Group will provide engineering, risk management and regulatory approvals services to ensure the work carried out under the modernisation programme meets regulatory and legal requirements and complies with the European Commission’s Common Safety Methods (CSM). 

The approval of the locomotives will be handled through the European Union Agency for Railways’ (ERA) One-Stop-Shop, meeting the requirements for the ERA and Swedish and Norwegian authorities. 

The modernisation of the locomotives will include upgrades to the onboard systems and signalling, with ETCS set to be introduced on the entire Ore Line in 2023.  

The locomotives haul iron-ore from LKAB’s mining operations in Malmfälten, centred on the towns of Kiruna and Malmberget in the north of Sweden, to the ports of Luleå, Sweden, and Narvik, Norway, around 10 times each day. Swedish infrastructure manager Trafikverket increased the maximum axleload on the southern 303km section of the 473km Narvik - Luleå Iron Ore Line from Kiruna to Luleå from 30 to 32.5 tonnes in October 2017. Successful trials with 32.5 tonnes have also been carried out on the northern section. 

LKAB’s fleet modernisation forms part of its newly published strategy to secure its operations beyond 2060. 

“The modernisation of LKAB’s fleet of locomotives is an important part of its transformation as it commits to creating sustainable growth before 2045,” says Mr Mikael Krydzinski, senior consultant, at Vysus Group. “Its fleet of locomotives is a critical element of the logistics system, transporting several million tonnes of iron-ore each year, and we are looking forward to playing a key role in helping make significant improvements to its operations.”  

Vysus Group says securing the contract with LKAB came directly as a result of the company’s proven track record and extensive experience in supporting rail operators, infrastructure owners and companies across the rail transportation supply chain in Europe and Scandinavia.