From Iceland — Train Between Keflavík And Reykjavík Being Explored

Train Between Keflavík And Reykjavík Being Explored

Published November 29, 2013

A consultant group is currently looking into the logistics of building a train between Keflavík and Reykjavík, with an estimated cost of 100 billion ISK.
Vísir reports that the group, under the leadership of former Bífröst University rector Runólfur Ágústsson, is working to design a train which would travel from the international airport to the BSÍ bus station in Reykjavík in 20 minutes or less. This would require traveling at speeds between 150 to 200 kilometres per hour.
The city of Reykjavík has already approved devoting 2.3 million ISK to the project, and other partners have gotten involved. Amongst them are Landsbanki, Ísavía (the company which operates the airport), and the Keflavík Airport Development Society.
At this point in development, two types of trains are particularly appealing: a 400 km/h magnetic train, or a 350 km/h electric train. Logistically speaking, it is anticipated that constructing the train line would be relatively straightforward across the Suðurnes peninsula – the challenge is finding the best path into the capital from Hafnarfjörður. This could include building an underground tunnel at some point in the path, to end at Vatnsmýri, where the domestic airport is located.
The development of the train idea began five years ago, with a general agreement made across those municipalities that would be affected.

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