The first-ever cross-Baltic rail freight service without the need to change locomotives is now reality. Moreover, it is the first time that a train operated by the Lithuanian rail freight operator LTG Cargo fully complied with European standards and did not share any data with Russia.
The train connects Kaunas, in Lithuania, with Muuga, in Estonia. It is made up of 15 wagons, 10 for the transport of semi-trailers and five for containers. This initiative is another step showing how the Baltic states want to distance themselves from Russia and become closer to the rest of Europe, as LTG Cargo’ CEO Eglė Šimė underlined.
From Russia’ GTT to the European Vehicle Register
Traditionally, rail freight services in the Baltics relied on the Russian GTT system, which included sharing data on rolling stock and cargo to the Kremlin. However, a new platform to register broad-gauge platform wagons to the European Vehicle Register now makes this procedure unnecessary. A test for this new type of service was launched at the beginning of 2024.
“It is the first time in the history of the restored Independence of Lithuania, when a train moves in the Baltic States based on the data of European Vehicle Register, based on the European certificate of Entities in Charge of Maintenance and – the most important! – without providing any redundant data to the Russian systems”, said the CRO of Lithuanian Railways Gediminas Seckus.