Transport in Iceland
The modes oftransport inIcelandare governed by the country's ruggedterrainandsparse population.The principal mode of personal transport is thecar.There are no publicrailways,although there arebusservices.[1]Transport from one major town to another, for exampleReykjavíktoAkureyri,may be byaeroplaneon adomestic flight.The only ways of getting in and out of the country are byairandsea.Most of the country'stransport infrastructureis concentrated near theCapital Region,which is home to 64% of the country's population.[2]
Rail
[edit]Iceland hasno public railways,although proposals to build a passenger line betweenKeflavíkandReykjavíkhave been made as well as proposals to build alight railsystem in Reykjavík.[3]
In the past, locomotive-powered and hand-operated rails have been temporarily set up during certain construction projects, and have long since been dismantled.[4]Some artifacts from their existence remains in museums and as static exhibits.[5]
Road
[edit]
Iceland has 12,869 kilometres (7,996 mi) of publicly administered roads, 5,040 kilometres (3,130 mi) of which are paved.[6]Organized road building began about 1900 and has greatly expanded since 1980.Vegagerðin(Icelandic Roads Administration) is the legal owner and constructor of the roads, and oversees and maintains them as well. 11.4% of passenger-kilometres are by bus and 88.6% by car.[7]
Sea
[edit]The majorharboursin Iceland are:
- Akureyri
- Hornafjördur
- Ísafjörður
- Keflavík
- Raufarhöfn
- Reykjavík
- Seyðisfjörður
- Straumsvík
- Vestmannaeyjar
Merchant marine:
total:
3 ships (with a tonnage of 1,000gt or over) totaling 13,085gt/16,938 tonnesdeadweight(DWT)
ships by type:
chemical tanker1,container ship1,petroleum tanker1 (1999 est.)
Transport ferries: The only habitable islands around Iceland are supplied and infrastructurally connected with the mainland viaferrieswhich run regularly. Those islands are:
- VestmannaeyjarThe largest and most populated island.
- HríseyIn the middle ofEyjafjörðurin northern Iceland.
- GrímseyAn island in the far-north, the northernmost part of Iceland.
Thoseferriesare considered part of the infrastructure system such as roads, and are therefore run byVegagerðinlike the roads.
- There is also a car ferry betweenStykkisholmuron Snæfell peninsula and Brjánslækur in theWest Fjordspeninsula, stopping at theFlateyisland.
- There is one international ferry betweenSeyðisfjörðuron the east coast, going to theFaroe IslandsandDenmark.
Air
[edit]
As of 2024,[8]there are 83airports in Iceland:
| Length | Paved | Unpaved | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| over 3,047 m | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1,524 to 2,437 m | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 914 to 1,523 m | 2 | 27 | 29 |
| under 914 m | 0 | 63 | 63 |
| Total | 6 | 93 | 99 |
Public transport
[edit]
Public transport systems in Iceland are relatively underdeveloped and many areas are poorly served bypublic transport.[9]
Limited services are provided in major urban areas, for exampleStrætó bsoperates bus services inReykjavík,and Strætisvagnar Akureyrar in the northern town ofAkureyri.Bus4u Iceland runs the public transport in the municipalityReykjanesbær.There are nationwidecoachand bus services linking the major towns, although manyIcelandersusedomestic flightsto get from one major town to another including, Reykjavík, Keflavík and Grímsey.[10][dubious–discuss]
Automobile ownership is also relatively high—the country has one of the highest rates in the world—with 580 cars per 1000 people (as of 2000), a figure similar to theUnited States.[11]
In the 2000s, and most recently in 2014, there have been proposals to construct a railway betweenKeflavík AirportandReykjavík.The airport in Keflavík is Iceland's main international airport; however, it is not situated close to the capital. It is currently served by a coach service, butReykjavik City Councilhas agreed to conduct afeasibility studyon the railway proposal, saying they are prepared to contribute 10 millionkrónurof funding.[12]Alight railnetwork within the capital has also been proposed.[13]
The country is served by some sea services. For example,ferriesare available from theFaroe IslandsandDenmarknotable operators includeSmyril Lineamongst others.[dubious–discuss]Ferry services also operate betweenÞorlákshöfnand theWestman Islands,operated byEimskip.[14]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Three major projects (EUR1 billion) at Keflavik Airport in next 12 years – right choice? Part one".CAPA - Centre for Aviation.Retrieved2023-04-27.
- ^"Population by municipality, age and sex 1998-2022 - Division into municipalites as of 1 January 2023".PX-Web.Retrieved2023-04-27.
- ^"MPs Propose Trains in Iceland".Iceland Review.2008-02-20.Retrieved2010-04-25.
- ^Kirk, N. P. (1902)."Map of Reykjavík Harbour Railway".Minjasafnið.
- ^"Minjasafn Reykjavík"(PDF).minjasafnreykjavikur.is/.1982.
- ^"Samgönguáætlun 2009-2012 (National transport plan 2009-2012)"(PDF).Alþingi (Icelandic parliament).Retrieved2010-04-25.
- ^"Eurostat - Modal split of passenger transport".ec.europa.eu.Retrieved2018-04-20.
- ^"CIA World Factbook".CIA. 21 July 2024.
- ^Upham, Paul; Sovacool, Benjamin K.; Monyei, Chukwuka G. (2022)."Energy and transport poverty amidst plenty: Exploring just transition, lived experiences and policy implications in Iceland".Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews.163:112533.Bibcode:2022RSERv.16312533U.doi:10.1016/j.rser.2022.112533.
- ^"Should You Rent a Car or Use Public Transportation in Iceland?".gocarrental.is.12 April 2023.Retrieved2023-04-27.
- ^"ICELAND WORLDWIDE – Practical information".Archived fromthe originalon 2007-08-16.Retrieved2008-05-24.
- ^"Iceland Review—Reykjavík City Wants Feasibility Study on Trains".28 March 2008.Retrieved2008-05-24.
- ^"Iceland Review—MPs Propose Trains in Iceland".20 February 2008.Retrieved2008-05-24.
- ^"Eimskip – Forsíða".Archived fromthe originalon 2008-05-17.Retrieved2008-05-24.
