{"id":254,"date":"2025-09-09T12:13:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-09T10:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jernbanedirektoratet.no\/en\/?page_id=254"},"modified":"2025-11-10T14:02:35","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T13:02:35","slug":"launch-and-seminar-arctic-test-arena","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.jernbanedirektoratet.no\/en\/innovation-on-the-railway\/arctic-test-arena-on-ofotbanen-and-malmbanan\/launch-and-seminar-arctic-test-arena\/","title":{"rendered":"Launch and seminar: Arctic Test Arena"},"content":{"rendered":"

Launch and seminar: Arctic Test Arena<\/h1>\n\n

We hosted a unique two-day programme in Narvik, 4\u20135 November, to celebrate the official launch of the Arctic Test Arena \u2013 a Norwegian\u2013Swedish initiative for testing and developing railway technology in extreme Arctic conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n

Over the course of two days, participants experienced a technical train journey along Ofotbanen and Malmbanan, gained first-hand insights into test activities, and took part in a dedicated seminar and laboratory visit at UiT \u2013 The Arctic University of Norway. This was a unique opportunity to share knowledge, reflect on lessons learned, and strengthen European collaboration for the railway of the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See LinkedIn post from the launch<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Programme and presentations<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPresentations from the launch and seminar Arctic Test Arena Seminar<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tpdf \u00b7 12 MB \u00b7 Dato: 10.11.2025<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Programme 4\u20135 November 2025<\/h3>\n\n\n
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\n\t\t\n\t\t\tDay 1 \u2013 Tuesday 4 November: Artic Innovation Train Journey \u2013 Narvik\u2013Abisko\u2013Narvik\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\n

08.45\u201309.00: Official Opening Ceremony \u2013 Narvik Station (with key partners)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Marit R\u00f8nning \u2013 Acting Director General,  Jernbanedirektoratet<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • S\u00e9bastien Denis \u2013 Senior Program Manager, Europe\u2019s Rail JU<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Thor Br\u00e6kkan \u2013 Regional Director North, Bane NOR<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Anders Aabakken \u2013 Head of Technology & Environment, Trafikverket<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Bj\u00f8rn Reidar S\u00f8rensen \u2013 Dean, The Arctic University of Norway (UiT)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Veronica J\u00e4gare \u2013 Director JVTC, Lule\u00e5 University of Technology (LTU)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Bj\u00f8rn Skjold Iversen \u2013 Vice President, SINTEF<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    09.00\u201314.00: Arctic Innovation Train Journey \u2013 Demonstrations & Field Presentations at selected stops<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    • About the Arctic Test Arena \u2013 Ann Kristin Bjerknes, Project Leader, Jernbanedirektoratet<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Historical background \u2013 Ofotbanen and Malmbanan \u2013 Thor Br\u00e6kkan, Regional Director North, Bane NOR<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Europe\u2019s Rail S\u00f8sterbekk Instrumentation & Structural Monitoring \u2013 Preben S\u00e6thre Program Manager and Stefano Derosa, Project Leader IAM4RAIL Europe\u2019s Rail Norway\/Jernbanedirektoratet, and Rune Nilsen, Research Leader SINTEF Narvik<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Snow, Ice & Winter Resilience \u2013 Per Arne Sundsb\u00f8 Dr. Ing., UiT<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Research and test activities in Sweden – Veronica J\u00e4gare, Director, JVTC\/LTU<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Fiber Sensing (DAS), Measurement of magnetic fields, and Availability simulations (RAMS) \u2013 Matti Rantatalo,  professor, LTU<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Digital Condition Monitoring from Trains \u2013 Bj\u00f6rn Dell\u00e5s, Senior Advisor, Trafikverket<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Heavy Trains \u2013 32.5 t Axle Load Testing  Tor Gunnar Pedersen, Project Manager, Bane NOR<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Hydronic Heating for Switches \u2013 Bane NOR<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      18.30\u201321.30: Networking Dinner \u2013 UiT Narvik<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n

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      \n\t\t\n\t\t\tDay 2 \u2013 Wednesday 5 November: Arctic Innovation Seminar \u2013 UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, Narvik\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\n

      09.00\u201309.10: Welcome to Arctic Test Arena Seminar and UiT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      • Bj\u00f8rn Reidar S\u00f8rensen, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Science and Technology, UiT<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        09.10\u201310.00: Derailment on Malmbanan 2023 \u2013 Lessons for Safety & Resilience<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        • Malin Syk \u2013 Head of Track Systems, Trafikverket<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Jan Lundgren \u2013 Head of Strategy Logistics, LKAB<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Peter Melander \u2013 Sr. VP Business Development, Railway Metrics & Dynamics<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Wolfgang Birk \u2013 CTO & Professor, Predge<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Dan Larsson \u2013 CEO, DAMILL AB<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Veronica J\u00e4gare \u2013 Director, JVTC\/LTU (Panel Moderator)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          10.15\u201311.15: Research and test activities \u2013 ongoing and potential<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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          • Testing on Ofotbanen \u2013 Svetlana Lorentzen, Track Engineer, Bane NOR<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Mining and Civil Engineering Lab and bridge research at LTU, Lennart Elfgren, Senior Professor, LTU<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • BIM, Rail Data Space & C-DAS Isabelle Tardy, Project Leader Motional, EU Rail Norway<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • AI Factory for Railway \u2013Ramin Karim, Professor and Head of Subject, LTU<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Research Infrastructure of National Significance \u2013 Rune Nilsen, Research Leader, SINTEF<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Fiber Infrastructure \u2013 Rune Brannfjell, Head of Operational Support, Bane NOR<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

            11.30\u201312.00: Arctic Test Arena: Ambition and collaboration<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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            • Ann Kristin Bjerknes \u2013 Project Leader Arctic Test Arena, Jernbanedirektoratet <\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Bj\u00f6rn Dell\u00e5s \u2013 Senior Advisor, Trafikverket<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Rune Brannfjell \u2013 Head of Operational Support, Bane NOR<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Rune Nilsen \u2013 Research Leader, SINTEF Narvik<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Leif-Gunnar Hanssen \u2013 Project Manager, UiT<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Veronica J\u00e4gare \u2013 Director JVTC\/LTU<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Preben S\u00e6thre, Program Leader Europe\u2019s Rail Norway, Jernbanedirektoratet<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

              12.00\u201312.30: Lab Visit \u2013 UiT Rail Technology Labs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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              • Concrete & Aggregates \u2013 Boy-Arne Persson-Buyle, UiT<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Industrial Technology Lab \u2013 St\u00e5le Herving, UiT<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • 3D Print \/ XR \/ Drone – UiT<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                12.30\u201313.00: Lunch UiT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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