Sjeverni Jadran u svjetlu 200. obljetnice puštanja u promet željeznica u svijetu

The first public railway line powered by steam locomotive was opened in England two hundred years ago. This was one of the most significant steps of the industrial revo - lution that considerably contributed to the transformation of the world into a modern society. Railways developed rapidly in the field of freight and passenger transport; they dominated the transport market for more than a century. This paper studies, analyses and concisely synthesises the role of railways in the development of the Northern Adri - atic. Our objective is to briefly shed light on that time and the events of key importance for the further development of this area and its strategic position in economic, transport and social terms – for Europe and our regions. Special emphasis has been put on the initial ideas, the construction of the earliest railways, and the accompanying dilemmas and difficulties. Railways connect the interior of the then Habsburg Monarchy with the Northern Adriatic. They represent a key development and economic factor of the ports, the port system, shipping, and the economy and mobility in this part of Europe.