A group of investors hopes to set plans of a high-speed rail link between Reykjavík and Keflavík Airport into motion within the next three years. Fréttablaðið newspaper reports that a high-speed rail link would cost 105 billion ISK (37.5 million Euros) to construct. In addition to private investors, Reykjavík, Kópavogur, Hafnarfjörður, Reykjanesbær and Garðarbær municipalities will partake and contribute to the challenging project.
Improved transit connections between Reykjavík and Keflavík Airport have been of interest for many years and an airport rail link has often been mentioned as a popular solution to shortening the commute between the greater capital area and Iceland’s main airport.
The electric high-speed train would travel between Keflavík Airport and Reykjavík’s city centre in 18 minutes, compared to 40 minutes with bus or car, at a speed reaching up to 250 kilometres per hour (155 mph).
According to Runólfur Ágústsson, who oversees the venture, an extensive environmental impact assessment will be carried out over the next three years, after which construction can begin. The project is expected to be completed by 2024.
An adult fare from Keflavík to Reykjavík city centre is expected to be between 800 to 3,800 ISK (5.6 Euros/6 UDS to 10.5 Euros/11.6 USD). Commuting passengers and students will pay the reduced fare prices while domestic and foreign tourists travelling to and from Keflavík Airport pay full fare prices.
The rail link will run over ground from Keflavík to the outskirts of Hafnarfjörður, where it will cross over to an underground system. The end terminal will be underground at BSÍ station in central Reykjavík.
“We are confident that we will be able to provide funds to launch the project in February. The next three years will devoted to assess the impact a rain link will have on the environment and to prepare preliminary designs and plans. Our hopes are that construction can begin in 2018,” Runólfur said.
A group of investors hopes to set plans of a high-speed rail link between Reykjavík and Keflavík Airport into motion within the next three years. Fréttablaðið newspaper reports that a high-speed rail link would cost 105 billion ISK (37.5 million Euros) to construct. In addition to private investors, Reykjavík, Kópavogur, Hafnarfjörður, Reykjanesbær and Garðarbær municipalities will partake and contribute to the challenging project.
Improved transit connections between Reykjavík and Keflavík Airport have been of interest for many years and an airport rail link has often been mentioned as a popular solution to shortening the commute between the greater capital area and Iceland’s main airport.
The electric high-speed train would travel between Keflavík Airport and Reykjavík’s city centre in 18 minutes, compared to 40 minutes with bus or car, at a speed reaching up to 250 kilometres per hour (155 mph).
According to Runólfur Ágústsson, who oversees the venture, an extensive environmental impact assessment will be carried out over the next three years, after which construction can begin. The project is expected to be completed by 2024.
An adult fare from Keflavík to Reykjavík city centre is expected to be between 800 to 3,800 ISK (5.6 Euros/6 UDS to 10.5 Euros/11.6 USD). Commuting passengers and students will pay the reduced fare prices while domestic and foreign tourists travelling to and from Keflavík Airport pay full fare prices.
The rail link will run over ground from Keflavík to the outskirts of Hafnarfjörður, where it will cross over to an underground system. The end terminal will be underground at BSÍ station in central Reykjavík.
“We are confident that we will be able to provide funds to launch the project in February. The next three years will devoted to assess the impact a rain link will have on the environment and to prepare preliminary designs and plans. Our hopes are that construction can begin in 2018,” Runólfur said.
