The Lithuanian section of Rail Baltica will only be complete by 2034. Originally scheduled for 2030, the railway across the Baltics is seriously delayed. The newest Lithuanian deadline comes from a governmental planning document, according to national media.
While it still needs approval, the document outlines a vision for the completion of Lithuania’s part of Rail Baltica. The country wants to start land acquisitions in 2028 and complete them by 2030. This will “allow for the completion of the construction of the priority North-South corridor”, which is the corridor leading to Rail Baltica’s end point in Tallinn, Estonia.
“In the second stage, we plan to complete the construction of the European railway line by including Vilnius in the joint Rail Baltica network”, the document reads. Vilnius is not located on the main corridor, but will instead be connected to the railway via a separate branch.
Not enough money
Rail Baltica’s delays are primarily a consequence of financing difficulties. Lithuania’s initial phase of implementation alone is valued at 5.6 billion euros. Only 1.6 billion euros has been secured for this, 85% of which comes from EU funds.
Even if the standard-gauge Rail Baltica line is projected to be a minor route for freight traffic, it could play a key role in military movements. It could also help to boost Baltic rail freight operations after a massive decline resulting from sanctions on Russia.