Alstom has signed a new, long-term technical support and spares supply agreement with LKAB Malmtrafik, which will cover a 12-year period starting 1 January 2026.
The agreement covers the service of 34 units, predominately a set of IORE heavy-haul locomotives, which are designed for some of the heaviest and most demanding freight operation in Europe.
LKAB Malmtrafik AB freight train with locomotives on track, and Lapporten in background, Kiruna
© Alstom
With the units operating year-round in challenging conditions; the agreement will see Alstom ensure long-term availability, cost predictability and sustained technical expertise to support reliable freight rail operations. It aims to reinforce a long-standing collaboration between Alstom and LKAB Malmtrafik, which first began with the delivery of the IORE locomotives in 2001.
Since 2007, Alstom has had a number of Technical Support, Spares and Supply Agreements (TSSSA) with LKAB Malmtrafik, having renegotiated in 2016 and subsequently formalising a 12-year contract in December of last year.
In addition to the long-term maintenance contract; Alstom will modernise the IORE locomotive fleet, implementing a number of technical upgrades and installing ERTMS/ETCS in order to extend service life and ensure safe, reliable iron ore transport on the Malmbanan in Arctic conditions.
Catarina Albertsson, Head of Locomotives and Railway Wagons, LKAB Malmtrafik, said:
Secure and predictable rail operations are fundamental to our mining and logistics operations.
This long-term agreement with Alstom ensures high availability of our locomotive fleet and gives us the stability needed to plan production and deliveries.
Overall, the agreement will see Alstom provide technical support, spare parts supply and logistics, including component revisions and obsolescence management, utilising its FlexCare Perform services and both local and global expertise. Any bogie revisions will be carried out at Alstom’s workshop in Luleå, whilst traction and auxiliary converter revisions will be performed at the Västerås component workshop, and operations will be supported locally through a dedicated warehouse in Kiruna.