Just over a year after an ore train derailed in Vassijaure, Kiruna municipality, the Accident Investigation Board’s report on what caused the incident will now. It is that low axle loads are lifted by packed snow and that side forces caused flanges to climb over the rails and track out.
A further reason for the derailment was that the snow cover over the railroad named Snögalleri 14 had a hole in itself that made it easier for snow to recover.
The Accident Commission recommends that the Swedish Transport Administration review rules and procedures for the construction and maintenance of snowmelling in order to protect the track against snow drives and difficult -to -reach driving.
Initially, the derailment was investigated as a sabotage, but the accident commission finds that this was not the case.
The final report for the derailment that took place on December 17, 2023 is expected in March.