New Funding Speeds Up Construction of the Gauge Railway Line in Baltic Countries

New funding accelerates the construction of the gauge railway line, enhancing Baltic infrastructure development. This was reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

RB Rail, the company coordinating the Rail Baltica project, announced signing two major financial agreements, enabling faster construction of the gauge railway line with a 1435 mm gauge. A total of €1.394 billion has been allocated, including €1.163 billion from the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) fund and €231 million from the national budgets of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.

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This is the largest grant awarded by the EU for infrastructure projects of this scale in 2021-2027, and it will support the development of critical Rail Baltica sections.

Construction of the Gauge Railway Line in Estonia

In Estonia, funding is allocated for the construction of the gauge railway line in the Soodnevahe – Kangru, Kangru – Saku, Hagudi – Alu, and Harjumaa areas, including a multi-level interchange at Lagedi. Additional construction is planned from Saku to the border of Harjumaa and Raplamaa counties, and from Alu to Kärpla and Kärpla to Selja. Estonia will thus receive €352 million from the CEF fund and an additional €88 million from the national budget, enabling the completion of work along 58 km of track.

Construction of the Gauge Railway Line in Latvia

In Latvia, primary funding focuses on building the railway section from Misa station to the Latvian-Lithuanian border. Funding is also allocated for constructing a high-voltage substation in Iecava and an infrastructure center in Skulte, which will serve as a logistical base for Rail Baltica. Additional funds will go towards acquiring land in Skulte and rerouting the gas pipeline parallel to the Vangazi – Misa section. Latvia will receive €337.6 million from the CEF fund and €59.5 million from the national budget.

Rail Baltica Development in Lithuania

Lithuania will use the allocated funds for constructing embankments on the Ramygala – Berčiūnai and Berčiūnai – Joniskelis sections, totaling 36.7 km, and for building high-voltage substations in Panevėžys, Ižuojā, and Ludvinavas. Lithuania will also receive support for track installation on the Kaunas – Panevėžys – Latvia border section, spanning 69 km. The total funding for Lithuania includes €450 million from the CEF fund and €79 million from the national budget.

Additionally, €24.5 million from the CEF fund and €4.3 million from the national budgets of the Baltic countries will fund the design and evaluation work related to electrification and risk management.

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