“Rail Baltica is the project of the century for Latvia, and its construction and timely completion is one of Latvia’s priorities. The geopolitical situation and the war show how important this project is for the Baltic countries and for the whole of Europe “said the minister, adding that the plan is to carry out the phases of the project, so that the first lines start operating in 2027.
Linkaits said that construction work has already started at both Riga Central Railway Station and Riga Airport. In addition, a contract for the construction of Salaspils terminal has been concluded and construction is expected to start next year of the main line in a southerly direction, in order to create a connection to Kaunas and further Poland.
The minister also said that several amendments to the laws to implement the project have been adopted, including a new “Rail Baltica” law.
The “Rail Baltica” project involves the construction of a European standard gauge railway line from Tallinn to the Lithuanian-Polish border, so that the Baltic states can be connected by rail with other European countries. In the Baltic states, the construction of a new 870 km long European gauge (1,435 mm) railway line with a maximum train speed of 240 km/h is planned.
The costs of “Rail Baltica” are expected to reach 5.8 billion euros, including the branch that has been decided to build between Kaunas and Vilnius. Part of the costs will be covered by European Union funds. The railway line “Rail Baltica” is planned to be opened sequentially in stages between 2026 and 2030.
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