Rail Haulage Systems Innovative use of the tried and tested

Authors: Metzelaers, J; Brudek, G; Elliot, RP Download Paper

Cite As:
Metzelaers, J, Brudek, G & Elliot, RP 2024, 'Rail Haulage Systems Innovative use of the tried and tested', in Daniel Johansson & Håkan Schunnesson (eds), MassMin 2024: Proceedings of the International Conference & Exhibition on Mass Mining, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, pp. 856-868.



Abstract:
Rail haulage systems in mining have come a long way in the last centuries and especially in the last decades with AC electric drive systems and automation increasing safety, efficiency, reliability and thus productivity in large scale mines while cutting emissions. Nordic Minesteel Technologies (NMT) and Schalke Locomotives GmbH (Schalke) have been involved in the largest mining rail haulage projects in the last 30 years like CODELCO’s El Teniente mine in Chile, LKAB’s Kiruna 1365 level in Sweden and Freeport’s Grasberg mine in Indonesia. All these mines benefit from innovations implemented in a tried and tested haulage system to achieve maximal productivity with minimal operational expenditures compared to other haulage solutions like trucks or conveyors.