Alstom signs a 12-year service agreement with LKAB Malmtrafik in Sweden for the maintenance of locomotives used for iron ore transport

Designed for some of the heaviest and most demanding freight operations in Europe, these locomotives operate year-round in challenging conditions. Ensuring their long-term availability and performance is critical for both mining operations and for Sweden’s broader industrial competitiveness. 
With this agreement, Alstom will ensure the highest fleet availability, cost predictability and sustained technical expertise to support reliable freight rail operations. 

This agreement reinforces the long-standing collaboration between Alstom and LKAB Malmtrafik since the delivery of the IORE locomotives in 2001. Alstom has had Technical Support, Spares and Supply Agreements (TSSSA) with LKAB Malmtrafik since 2007, renegotiated in 2016, and now renewed through the 12‑year contract signed in December 2025. In addition to this long‑term maintenance contract, Alstom is modernising the IORE locomotive fleet, including technical upgrades and the installation of ERTMS/ETCS, to extend service life and ensure safe, reliable iron ore transport on the Malmbanan in Arctic conditions.

The reliable operation of LKAB Malmtrafik’s freight trains is essential for transporting iron ore and minerals from northern Sweden to the rest of the world. These rail operations form a key link in Sweden’s industrial supply chain, ensuring stable deliveries to the steel industry and supporting export revenues, employment and economic growth. Alstom’s technical support and spares supply ensures uninterrupted operations, reliability and cost control, with minimised obsolescence risk and availability guarantees.

“We are proud of the trust LKAB Malmtrafik places in us and fully committed to supporting reliable rail services that are essential to Sweden’s mineral transport”, says Carl-Peder Öhlander, Customer Director at Alstom

Alstom will deliver comprehensive technical support, spare parts supply and logistics, including component revisions and obsolescence management, leveraging its FlexCare Perform services and both local and global expertise. Bogie revisions will be carried out at Alstom’s workshop in Luleå, while traction and auxiliary converter revisions will be performed at the Västerås component workshop. Operations will be supported locally through a dedicated warehouse in Kiruna, staffed by Alstom personnel. The delivery is further strengthened by Alstom’s international supply network and expertise, with key collaboration across sites in Switzerland, England and Germany. 

“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”, Catarina Albertsson, Head of Locomotives and Railway Wagons, LKAB Malmtrafik.

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