Category: Lithuania

LTG Cargo deals with a rising number of attempts to evade sanctions

Attempts to circumvent Western sanctions on Russia and Belarus via rail through Lithuania grew exponentially between March and May. The Lithuanian national rail freight operator LTG Cargo said that four wagons were blocked and sent back at the Lithuanian border in March, while in May this number increased to 62. The company did not provide…

EU’s Council of Ministers approves European-gauge railway to Klaipeda

The EU’s Council of Ministers has approved the construction of a European-gauge railway to the Lithuanian port city of Klaipeda. The newly approved railway is part of the revised TEN-T regulation. According to the Lithuanian transport ministry, the European-gauge railway to Klaipėda will improve transport and logistics links in the Baltic region and Eastern Europe.…

Freight to contribute little to billions of Rail Baltica-induced growth

Rail Baltica is an economically viable undertaking. While its projected cost has grown immensely in recent years, the high-speed rail line is expected to contribute up to 23,5 billion euros to the Baltic economies. Freight, however, is not likely to contribute much. An independent cost-benefit analysis (CBA) found that Rail Baltica will likely add between…

Rail Baltica mainline construction takes off in Latvia

Latvia is commencing construction works on the Rail Baltica mainline. The Rail Baltica team and its international partners gathered in Riga to mark the occasion, but uncertainty remains about the final shape Rail Baltica will take. The construction of the 230-kilometre Latvian mainline will take place in stages. Initially, Rail Baltica will be working on…

Lithuania’s LTG Group to ditch Russian locomotive safety system

As another step towards EU integration, the Lithuanian railway holding LTG Group will replace its current Russian KLUB-U locomotive safety system. The new one will be developed by SRPA Impulse, a Ukrainian company which already had similar projects in Bulgaria and Estonia. In total, 163 locomotives will have their system replaced, including 111 for rail…

Costly Rail Baltica to cut ambitions and seek funding elsewhere

As Rail Baltica’s projected costs are mounting and continue to grow, the project’s feasibility is in question. Uncertainty surrounding EU funding is forcing Rail Baltica to look elsewhere and readjust ambitions. As Rail Baltica eagerly awaits the results of the January application round for EU funding, discussions surrounding pan-Baltic railway continue. It is uncertain how…