Járnbrautum

Járnbrautum is the Icelandic term for railways, a system of transport based on steel rails laid on prepared foundations and operated by locomotives or multiple-unit trains. Railways enable high-capacity passenger and freight movement over long distances and are often integrated with other transport modes such as roads and ports.

Globally, railway systems vary in track gauge, electrification, signaling, and ownership. The most common gauge is standard gauge (1,435 mm), but many regions use broad or narrow gauges. Electrification ranges from fully electric networks to fossil-fuel or diesel operation, and services may be passenger-only, freight-only, or mixed. Rail networks can be state-owned, privately operated, or run under public-private concessions. The development of high-speed rail has led to speeds well above 200 km/h on selected lines in several countries.

Key components of railway systems include the track, rolling stock (locomotives and passenger or freight cars), signaling and control systems, stations, and yards for maintenance. Operations are guided by timetables, safety rules, and infrastructure management to coordinate train movements and minimize conflicts with other traffic.

In Iceland, there is no functioning national railway network as of the present. Over the years, various feasibility studies and proposals have explored the possibility of building rail links, particularly to connect population centers and support tourism, but no lines have been constructed. The Icelandic transport system today relies mainly on road networks, air travel, and maritime links.

Railway development generally depends on geography, population density, capital costs, and energy considerations; railways remain a major mode of long-distance transport in many parts of the world due to efficiency, safety, and environmental benefits.