Trafikverket investigates reviving abandoned Swedish railway lines

Trafikverket is investigating the potential reactivation of abandoned railway lines in northern Sweden to strengthen the nation's total defense capabilities and regional accessibility. One project involves clearing vegetation on the decommissioned track between Morjärv and Haparanda, which has not seen traffic since 2012, to assess its future viability. Another initiative focuses on building test tracks between Jörn and Arvidsjaur to evaluate construction methods suitable for railways that have been out of use for many years.

Regarding current operations, a dispute has emerged over capacity on the Malmbanan line. While Trafikverket maintains there is sufficient space to run more trains between Svappavaara and Kiruna, LKAB asserts that general conditions on the line are forcing them to use trucks for ore transport. LKAB's logistics chief, Linda Bjurholt, suggested that the issue is financial, stating, ‘If it were about money, we would have bought new trains at once.’