Content deleted Content added
m clean up, replaced: |website = http:// → |website=, typo(s) fixed: 1922-1923 → 1922–1923 |
Drumstick21 (talk | contribs) →Within the Capital Region: citations |
||
| (25 intermediate revisions by 19 users not shown) | |||
Line 1:
{{Short description|none}}
== Reykjavík Harbour Railway ==
Probably the most well-known Icelandic rail project, the Reykjavík Harbour Railway, of {{RailGauge|900mm|lk=on}} [[narrow gauge]], operated discontinuously from 1913 until 1928 for the construction of the harbour breakwaters. Its first main operation phase was from 1913 to 1917, when the first phase of the harbour was finished. The second period of operation was from 1920 to 1922 when Kolabakki (now Austurbakki) quay was constructed. The third and final period was from 1925 to 1928 when Faxagarður quay was constructed and landfill alongside the shore (where Sæbraut is today).<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Háskólabókasafn |first=Landsbókasafn Íslands- |title=Tímarit.is |url=https://timarit.is/page/5271850 |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=timarit.is |language=is}}</ref>
=== Track network ===
[[File:Map of Reykjavík Harbour Railway.jpg|thumb|Reykjavík Harbour Railway from 1920 by N. P. Kirk]]The railway system initially operated a network of around 10 km of track, from a quarry outside the city, [[Öskjuhlíð]], from which it ran a short distance to a junction, [[passing loop]], and sidings. The junction was located just south of a large field which became the [[Reykjavík Airport|Reykjavík city airport]]. From there, one line ran to the west, around the western edge of the city, before proceeding along the newly constructed western harbour pier to the island of Effersey. A [[headshunt]] there allowed trains to reverse along a further line, built out onto the outer harbour wall, and extended as that wall itself grew longer.
The final size of the network was approximately {{convert|12|km|mi|abbr=on}} with a gauge of {{RailGauge|900mm|lk=on}} [[narrow gauge]] and a rail weight of {{convert|22.5|kg/m|lbs/yd|abbr=on}}. The steepest sections were 1:40 gradient and the tightest curves had a radius of {{convert|55|m|yd|abbr=on}}.<ref name=":1" />
The last remains of railway track were dismantled in 1940-1945 after the [[British invasion of Iceland]] during the construction of [[Reykjavík Airport]]. Today none of the track remains.
===Rolling stock===
[[Image:RHR-Minor.JPG|thumb|right|Locomotive ''Minør'' as preserved today]]The railway was operated by two [[steam locomotive]]s built by the [[
The locomotives had an operating pressure of {{convert|180|psi|MPa|abbr=on}} and a power of around {{convert|150|hp|kW|abbr=on}}. The locomotives ran at a maximum of {{convert|50|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}.
The main vehicles on the railway
===Incidents===
Iceland's first railway accident was on the Reykjavik Harbour Railway. Records at the [[Árbær Museum]] show that both locomotives were involved in accidents between the two world wars. ''Pioner'' was deliberately derailed by vandals, who placed a chain across the track and weighted down its two sides with rocks. They later claimed that they were testing the locomotive's performance, because it had already survived their previous experiments of placing coins and planks on the track. ''Minør'' was involved in a genuine accident when a section of track gave way beneath the engine. That was later found to have been caused by rotten wooden [[railroad tie|sleepers]] supporting that section of track.<ref>Both incidents are recorded in the library archives of the Árbær folk museum, Reykjavík.</ref>
=== Other uses ===
[[File:090625 - Historische Bahn Reykjavik.jpg|thumb|270x270px|Workers with the locomotive Minør]]
During the Reykjavík Harbour Railway's existence, it occasionally used to transport other freight on an ad hoc basis. When the main construction phase of the harbour was completed in 1917 the City of Reykjavík decided to purchase all of the equipment used in its construction, including the railway – presumably to ensure its continued use. Mostly in the years 1914–1918 the harbour railway was used to transport:
* Oil drums from the new quay at Örfisey (where Reykjavík's oil terminal still stands today) into the city centre;
* Meat for export from the [[Sláturfélag Suðurlands]] meat processing plant at Skúlagata to the harbour;
* Timber and aggregate for building construction in the city centre; and
* Coal from the harbour to local distributors.
The railway was again used for other purposes in 1926 during the construction of [[Landspítali]] when cement and aggregate was transported from the harbour and one of the quarries.<ref name=":1" />
==Kárahnjúkar light railway==
Line 37 ⟶ 53:
==Recently proposed railways==
There have been intermittent proposals for a passenger railway from Reykjavík to [[Keflavík International Airport]], firstly in the early 2000s. In 2003, the idea of an airport railway was dropped and a dual carriageway road ([[Route 41 (Iceland)|road 41]]) was built instead, opening in 2008.▼
===Reykjavík–Keflavík===
▲There have been intermittent proposals for a passenger railway from Reykjavík to [[Keflavík International Airport]], firstly in the early 2000s. In 2003, the idea of an airport railway was dropped and a dual carriageway road ([[Route 41 (Iceland)|
More recently, a private group has been looking into the idea of an airport railway. In 2014, a feasibility study was undertaken by Ráðgjöf og verkefnastjórnun, which declared that a [[High-speed rail|high speed]] [[Airport rail link|airport railway]] would be feasible with the increasing numbers of tourists coming to Iceland, and passenger numbers at [[Keflavík International Airport]]. The project has begun looking for funding and has had talks with the local municipalities about the planning and alignment of the railway.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mbl.is/vidskipti/frettir/2016/09/02/somdu_um_hradlest_a_sudurnesjum/|title=Sömdu um hraðlest á Suðurnesjum|access-date=2017-02-22}}</ref>
The [[Railway electrification|electrified railway]] would run double tracked from the airport, roughly parallel to the current road, and would then be situated in tunnels from [[Hafnarfjörður|Hafnafjörður]], with a terminal at Reykjavík's main bus station BSÍ
In 2019, all municipalities the rail line would pass through, except [[Hafnarfjörður]], had approved a cooperation agreement on zoning related to the project, with ''Morgunblaðið'' reporting that a meeting with the mayor of Hafnarfjörður has been scheduled
In May 2023, Fluglestin þróunarfélag announced plans to revisit the project citing interest from European rail operators as well as Chinese and Japanese contractors in financing and constructing the project. The current plans are unchanged, however the Reykjavík terminal may be scaled back to [[Kringlan]]. The project would have three stations:
* [[Keflavík International Airport|Keflavik International Airport]]
* Southern [[Capital Region (Iceland)|Capital Region]] stop in [[Kópavogur]] or [[Hafnarfjörður|Hafnafjörður]] - (likely [[Smáralind]] shopping centre/mall)
* BSÍ bus terminal ([[Reykjavík]] city centre) or [[Kringlan]] shopping centre
===Within the Capital Region===
▲In 2019, all municipalities the rail line would pass through, except [[Hafnarfjörður]], had approved a cooperation agreement on zoning related to the project, with ''Morgunblaðið'' reporting that a meeting with the mayor of Hafnarfjörður has been scheduled. Once fully agreed to, construction work could begin as early as 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://standbynordic.com/iceland-airport-train-still-on-track/|title=Iceland airport train still on track|date=9 April 2019}}</ref>
There have also been serious proposals for a light rail system for the [[Capital Region (Iceland)|Capital Region]] (Reykjavík, Kópavogur, Hafnafjörður). In the Samtök Sveitarfélaga á Höfuðborgarsvæðinu (Association of municipalities in the Capital Area) master plan for the capital area, Höfuðborgarsvæðið 2040, the transport section outlines a plan to create a [[light rail]]/[[Bus rapid transit|BRT]] system in the Capital Area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ssh.is/borgarlina|title=SSH - Borgarlína|last=Björgvinsdóttir|first=Sandra|website=ssh.is|language=is-is|access-date=2017-02-22|archive-date=2017-02-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223212057/http://ssh.is/borgarlina|url-status=dead}}</ref> The mayors of the respective municipalities have agreed to the masterplan and have shown interest in this proposal, which is currently in a planning stage
In 2019, a funding package was agreed between the central government and municipalities in the Capital Region on the construction of a BRT system, scaled back from original light rail proposals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sáttmáli um samgöngur á höfuðborgarsvæðinu |url=https://www.stjornarradid.is/verkefni/samgongur-og-fjarskipti/samgonguaaetlun/sattmali-um-samgongur-a-hofudborgarsvaedinu/ |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=www.stjornarradid.is |language=is}}</ref> As of 2023, the first phase set for completion in 2026, is from Reykjavík city centre to Hamraborg in [[Kópavogur]]. The second phase is from the city centre to Ártúnshöfði in eastern Reykjavík, to be complete in 2027. Later phases are still in planning, but a network spanning the greater Capital Region is to be constructed in phases.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spurt og svarað |url=https://borgarlinan.is/spurningar/ |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=Borgarlínan}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Borgarlína Lota 1, Suðurlandsbraut – Laugavegur, hönnun |url=https://www.vegagerdin.is/verkefnin/utbod/borgarlina-lota-1-sudurlandsbraut-laugavegur-honnun |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=www.vegagerdin.is |language=is}}</ref>
▲There have also been serious proposals for a light rail system for the [[Capital Region (Iceland)|Capital Region]] (Reykjavík, Kópavogur, Hafnafjörður). In the Samtök Sveitarfélaga á Höfuðborgarsvæðinu (Association of municipalities in the Capital Area) master plan for the capital area, Höfuðborgarsvæðið 2040, the transport section outlines a plan to create a [[light rail]]/[[Bus rapid transit|BRT]] system in the Capital Area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ssh.is/borgarlina|title=SSH - Borgarlína|last=Björgvinsdóttir|first=Sandra|website=ssh.is|language=is-is|access-date=2017-02-22}}</ref> The mayors of the respective municipalities have agreed to the masterplan and have shown interest in this proposal, which is currently in a planning stage. There has been pressure put on Alþingi and the municipalities to clarify how the project will be funded.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ruv.is/frett/borgarlina-odyrari-leid-en-mislaeg-gatnamot|title=Borgarlína ódýrari leið en mislæg gatnamót|date=2016-12-02|newspaper=RÚV|access-date=2017-02-22|language=en}}</ref>
== See also ==
Line 55 ⟶ 81:
== External links ==
* [http://www.reykjavikmuseum.is Árbær Museum/Reykjavik City Museum] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061112045737/http://www.reykjavikmuseum.is/ |date=2006-11-12 }}
{{Rail transport in Europe}}
[[Category:Rail transport in Iceland| ]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Europe]]
| |||