Rail Baltica Secures New EU Funding for Major Railway Expansion in the Baltics

Rail Baltica has submitted a funding application under the Connecting Europe Facility to expand its railway infrastructure across Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The total budget for planned projects exceeds €325M. This was reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

New Rail Baltica Infrastructure Projects Across the Baltics

Rail Baltica’s funding request includes large-scale infrastructure improvements across the three Baltic nations. In Estonia, construction covers a 10.1 km double-track embankment from Kärpla to Selja, focusing on railway substructure and engineering structures.

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Latvia’s plans prioritize construction on the Rail Baltica southern mainline, adding 14.2 km of railway embankments. The proposal also includes technical design for electrification between the Latvian-Lithuanian border and Upeslejas, supporting long-term operational efficiency.

Lithuania’s scope features critical infrastructure, including three structures in the Kaunas Urban Node Railway Mainline Section. The project also funds the full ENE technical design from the Latvian border to Poland, regional station planning, and land acquisition for 30% of the route from Poland to Kaunas.

Rail Baltica Construction Gains Momentum in 2024

Railway development across Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania continues progressing, with several key milestones achieved in 2024. Estonia has 73.87 km of railway embankment under construction, with tenders for 32.59 km expected in the coming weeks.

Latvia has finalized a framework agreement covering 228 km of mainline civil works, with construction beginning on a 40 km segment near the Lithuanian border. Lithuania has 46.3 km of mainline embankment under development, with tenders issued for an additional 12.1 km section. Future contracts will launch in 2025, covering a total of 114 km.

Currently, around 160 km of the Rail Baltica mainline is under construction. With ongoing procurement for railway subsystems, Rail Baltica expects 43% of the mainline to be construction-ready by late 2025.

Cross-Border Collaboration Strengthens Rail Baltica’s Development

Rail Baltica’s joint venture, RB Rail AS, continues coordinating cross-border projects with financial support from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The organization manages system engineering, project planning, and technical support to streamline infrastructure development.

Funding from the European Union and Baltic states has already surpassed €4B. Due to rising inflation-driven costs, Rail Baltica is considering alternative funding options, including concession-based procurement and EU military mobility funds.

Final EU Funding Round Expected to Boost Rail Baltica’s Growth

In September 2024, the European Commission launched the last funding call under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Transport) for the 2021–2027 period. Rail Baltica’s application aligns with this initiative, aiming to secure additional resources for its railway expansion.

Results from the CEF funding round are expected by July 2025, with final agreements expected in the fall. If approved, the funds will accelerate construction, ensuring a faster and more efficient rail connection between the Baltic states and Europe’s high-speed railway network.

Source: www.baltictimes.com

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