The Large European Country Without a Single Train Station
Despite being the second-largest island in Europe and the 17th largest country by land area, Iceland stands out for its absence of a public rail network. While Europe boasts a vast and efficient rail system, facilitating comfortable travel across the continent, Iceland has never constructed a passenger railway system.
With a population of just 380,000—more than a third of whom reside in the capital city, Reykjavík—Iceland’s unique geography and sparse population have contributed to this decision. Unlike many European nations, which rely heavily on trains for transportation, Iceland has opted for alternative modes of travel, primarily roadways, to connect its communities.
This situation is particularly striking when considering that Europe is home to over 202,000 kilometers (125,516 miles) of rail track within the European Union alone, making it the third-largest market for rail passenger traffic globally, with approximately 345 billion kilometers (214 billion miles) traveled by train each year. In contrast, Iceland remains an outlier in the European landscape, where trains are a fundamental part of everyday life.
