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The mystery of the disappearance of the Reykjavik MRT! Why did this railway, which had been in operation for more than ten years, finally disappear without a trace?
Islam had a briefly functioning railway system in past centuries, but it has now completely disappeared. The country's obstacles to building and maintaining a railway system stem from its small population and the convenience of existing transportation methods such as cars and buses, on the one hand, and its harsh natural environment, on the other. This article will explore the history of the Reykjavík Harbor Railway, why it operated, and the factors that ultimately led to its demise.
Between 1913 and 1928, the Reykjavík Harbor Railway served the city's construction, but has since disappeared.
History of Reykjavik MTR
The Reykjavík Harbour Railway is Iceland's most famous railway project. This 900 mm narrow gauge railway operated mainly between 1913 and 1928 and was established to build the port. The first phase of construction of the railway was completed between 1913 and 1917, focusing in particular on the construction of the harbour breakwater.
As construction progressed, the railway's route was extended, and the original 10-kilometer path soon became a busier freight channel. Reykjavík MRT not only supported the construction work, but also transported stones, oil drums and other building materials for a period of time after completion. However, as military operations and transportation needs changed, all traces of the railway were eventually removed between 1940 and 1945.
In order to ensure the port's cargo needs, the Reykjavik city authorities considered purchasing all construction equipment, including the railway.
Other past railway projects
In addition to the Reykjavik Harbour Rail, Iceland has a number of other short-lived railway plans. For example, in the early 2000s, a diesel-powered light railway was built to support the construction of the Kárahnjúkar hydroelectric power plant, but this system was also extremely short-lived. As construction work was completed, the railway was quickly closed and the equipment it transported returned to its original factory.
In addition, in the 1930s, Iceland's first industrial farm, Korpúlfsstaðir, also had a 600 mm narrow-gauge railway specifically for on-site freight transport. With the closure of the farm, the railway also disappeared and no trace of its operation can be verified.
The government's priority given to the railway system eventually led to the rapid development of highway transportation, which in turn led to the improvement of the national road system.
Historical proposals and modern ideas
Proposals to build railways have been common since the early 20th century. The first official proposal appeared in 1906, for a line connecting Reykjavík and Selfoss, but it was never realized due to high costs and lack of demand. More recent proposals include plans for a railway link to Reykjavik International Airport, which was resurrected in 2023 with the hope of attracting international funding.
In Iceland, a light rail system has been mentioned many times but has never become a reality. This situation is particularly prominent in the connection with international airports, where resistance to the proposal mainly stems from the reality that traditional road transport still dominates.
The mismatch between the existing railways and modern transportation priorities often means that these plans cannot be implemented.
Reasons for the disappearance of railways and future possibilities
Why did Reykjavik's railway disappear? First, Iceland's geographical characteristics pose challenges to the construction of railways. Secondly, the government chose to allocate resources to more convenient road projects rather than railway development. In addition, the construction and maintenance costs of railways are high, and although proposals for them were made as early as the early 20th century, they were ultimately not implemented due to various factors.
Although Islam currently has no public rail system, plans for sustainable transport are underway, such as the promotion of Oslo's classic zebra crossings and bicycle lanes. Is there a possibility of restarting the railway again in the future? This question is left for us to think about.
