Arenijus Jackus, CEO of Rail Baltica Statyba, a subsidiary of Lietuvos Gelezinkeliai (Lithuanian Railways, LTG), stated that the construction of the Rail Baltica European gauge railway in Lithuania is expected to be completed by 2030 as planned. However, he also warned of risks that could potentially delay the project.
According to Jackus, experts are currently assessing how much the project’s cost could increase if its completion were delayed until 2033.
“We aim to finish by the end of 2030. Right now, we’ve identified several risks, some of which have already materialized, and these could delay implementation as far as 2032-2033,” the official told the Parliamentary Committee on Economics earlier this week.
“We’re currently working on a plan to determine how much this might cost additionally, how to complete the project by 2030, and how much more it would cost if completed in 2033,” he added.
Jackus also noted that the situation is more complex in Latvia, where, he said, the project’s completion could be delayed until 2035.
The CEO of Rail Baltica Statyba emphasized that the most critical task at the moment is securing funding for the work scheduled for 2027. He also pointed out that, until 2028, when the new EU financial framework begins, it will no longer be possible to submit new applications to the European Commission.
“There may still be some redistribution of funds at the end of this year. We’re preparing for that,” he added.
According to Jackus, Lithuania is the only country in Europe most enthusiastic about building the European rail gauge.
“The Finns, Latvians, Estonians, Irish, and Spaniards are more cautious about this due to the significant investments involved,” he said.
LTG CEO Egidijus Lazauskas mentioned that Rail Baltica’s adaptation for military mobility also affects the railway’s construction cost estimate.
“When the project began, one important element was missing, which is now particularly evident – the aspect of military mobility and dual-purpose use,” Lazauskas told the committee.
“This has impacted the cost estimates. There are additional requirements and greater loads for transporting military equipment,” he added.
The state-owned railway group’s CEO also noted that Lithuania had discussed with European Commissioner Andrius Kubilius whether the dual-purpose railway could make the country eligible for more funding.
The Rail Baltica project, which aims to integrate the Baltic states into the European rail network, is scheduled to be completed by 2030, with Lithuanian and Polish tracks expected to be linked by 2028.
Rail Baltica will connect Tallinn, Parnu, Riga, Panevezys, Kaunas, Vilnius, and Warsaw, including a 392-kilometer stretch in Lithuania.
Source: BNS
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