For the people in Kirkenes it was a pleasure to see the train back on its tracks along the main road into town. The last time the railroad was in use was in 1996, when the “old” Sydvaranger company closed down production.
Sydvaranger Mine has now renovated the train and the track and invested in a new locomotive, newspaper Finnmarken reports.
The twelve kilometers long single-tracked line will be used to transport coarsely crushed ore from the plant in Bjørnevatn to the plant in Kirkenes. The 11 wagons on the train can take a total of 77 tons on each trip, and the company plans to make up to 20 trips per day.
The first iron ore concentrate production is planned for October and the first concentrate shipment is planned for November 2009.
