Europe is the third largest market for rail passenger traffic, where people travel approximately 345 billion kilometres (214 billion miles) on trains every year.
Among all the European nations, Switzerland uses its railway network to travel more compared to other land transport means.
However, there is one country in Europe that has never had a major public rail network.
Iceland is one of the exceptions to the rule, having never built a passenger railway system.
It is the second largest island in Europe after Britain and has a population of just 380,000 – over a third of whom live in the capital city Reykjavík. It’s also the 17th largest country in Europe by land area meaning several nations with extensive rail networks are smaller than Iceland.
The country’s small population, road network, widespread use of cars, and harsh weather conditions are the main reasons for its lack of rail system.
But Iceland has built railways in the past to transport materials and goods around the island.
First, there was the Reykjavík Harbour railway which was operational between 1913-1928.
The rail line was used to transport boulders from a quarry in Öskjuhlíð hill to the Reykjavík harbour as it was being built.
The industrialist Thor Jensen then built in 1930 his Korpúlfstaðir farm railway to help him move material and goods around his rural estate
Finally, a light diesel-operated railway was built at the start of the 21st century for the construction of the Kárahnjúkar hydroelectric power project.
Three trains travelled around the clock to transport concrete, people, and other items.
Iceland makes a great destination to visit, despite its lack of a rail network and is easy enough to travel around without trains.
The Nordic nation is known for its dramatic landscape with volcanoes, geysers, hot springs and lava fields.
Massive glaciers are protected in the Vatnajökull and Snæfellsjökull national parks.
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Publish date : 2024-09-29 10:59:00
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