The incident occurred on the night towards Wednesday, at Katterat, on the Norwegian side near Riksgränsen.
According to the Norwegian state railway company Bane Nor, there is a rockfall warning in several places along the Ofotbanan, which is the Norwegian branch of the Malmbanan. However, it is unusual for boulders of this size to fall.
SJ's passenger trains are replaced with buses between Abisko Östra and Narvik.
According to the mining company LKAB, which transports iron ore to Luleå and Narvik, Wednesday's ten planned departures had to be cancelled. Depending on when the traffic starts again, just as many departures risk being cancelled on Thursday.
For every 24 hours that the traffic is at a standstill, LKAB loses around 100 million kronor, according to the company's acting press chief Mikko Viitala.
It once again shows the vulnerability of the Malmbanan when something like this happens, he says to TT.
Traffic is expected to be up and running again at 18.00 on Thursday. Before that, nearly 80 meters of rail will be replaced, according to LKAB.
