From Iceland — MPs From 5 Parties Behind Keflavík Train Proposal

MPs From 5 Parties Behind Keflavík Train Proposal

Published September 16, 2014

Andie Sophia Fontaine
Photo by
Grapevine Archives

MPs from five parties have proposed the Icelandic government explore building a train between Keflavík and Reykjavík, as well as a train for the greater Reykjavík area.

Vísir reports that the proposal has speakers from every parliamentary party except the Pirate Party. Leading the proposal is Left-Green chairperson Katrín Jakobsdóttir, followed by Svandís Svavarsdóttir (Left-Green), Ásmundur Friðriksson (Independence Party), Silja Dögg Gunnarsdóttir (Progressives), Óttarr Proppé (Bright Future), Karl Garðarsson (Progressives) and Oddný G. Harðardóttir (Social Democrats).

The proposal calls for results of the government’s findings on the logistics and possibilities for the trains in 2015. The idea is not a new one, and this proposal has been submitted three times before without discussion.

In 2011, the Keflavik Airport Development Corporation (Kadeco) discussed the idea of building a train between the airport and the capital, saying there were exploring the prospect. In 2013, consultancy group was said to be looking into building a train as well. Last July, this idea began to take a more specific shape as reports outlined more exact details of what form the train would take.

As it is, there are no operating trains in Iceland. Those wishing to travel from the airport to the capital without renting a car can, however, take shuttle buses to Reykjavík.

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