Rail Baltica - a new economic and security corridor
Rail Baltica – part of the EU’s North Sea-Baltic TEN-T corridor and Baltic Sea - Black Sea - Aegean Sea TEN-T corridor. It will be an interoperable and efficient railway connection between Poland, the Baltic States and, indirectly, Finland. It will create connection points between rail, sea, air and road transport. As a major missing link on both corridors, Rail Baltica will help connect the region also to Ukraine and Moldova which are part of the North Sea – Baltic and the Baltic Sea – Black Sea – Aegean Sea corridors.
According to the revised Regulation 2024/1153/EC on EU guidelines for developing the Trans-European Transport network (TEN-T) adopted 18 June 2024, Rail Baltica should connect the three Baltic countries to the European railway network in 2030, integrating them into the Single European Railway Area.
Rail Baltica will be built in phases. During the first phase until the end of 2030 (Phase 1), connection between Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to the European railway network will be built. During the second phase, further elements essential to use the full potential of Rail Baltica, should be implemented in line with the TEN-T Regulation.
Implementation of the project in Latvia
Latvia’s commitment to Rail Baltica as a top priority infrastructure project is unwavering. On 10 December 2024 the Government of Latvia adopted decision on Rail Baltica Phase 1 scope:
- Construction of the cross-border connection from the Lithuanian/Latvian border via Misa - Upeslejas - Vangaži to the Latvian/Estonian border, starting with construction of the section Lithuanian/Latvian border - Misa.
- Completion of the Rail Baltica passenger station at the international Airport Riga and the southern section of the Rail Baltica Riga Central Hub to ensure functionality of the Hub.
- Construction of a new 1520mm railway connection from Airport Riga to Imanta railway station to enable functional passenger service between Airport Riga, Riga Central Railway Hub using 1520mm railway tracks and connecting to the new Rail Baltica 1435 mm line in Salaspils.
- Cargo loading/unloading facilities on both banks of the Daugava River for military mobility needs.
During Phase 1, access to the Rail Baltica line from and to Riga shall be ensured through the existing rail network.
General facts:
- the largest infrastructure project in the Baltic region over the last 100 years
- for both passenger and freight traffic
- length: 870 km (~265 km in Latvia)
- max speed: 249 km/h (passenger), 120 km/h (freight)
- project is implemented in parallel in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
- financed 81-85% by EU, Connecting Europe Facility instrument and co-financed by the Baltic countries
History
- Rail Baltica project is sometimes described as a symbolic return of the Baltic countries into Europe – up until WWII the Baltic countries were already connected to other European capitals by a 1435 mm gauge railway line while since the middle of the 20th century the Baltic countries have been mainly linked to the East-West railway axis using the Russian 1520 mm gauge.
- At the beginning of the 90ties after the initiative of 11 Baltic Sea countries an international high-speed railway line Tallinn - Berlin was first marked in the cartographic materials of the region and discussions on spatial planning started regards connectivity of the Baltic countries with Central Europe by way of a North - South railway line.
- In 2017 all three Baltic parliaments ratified the Inter-Governmental Agreement for the Rail Baltica project.
- In 2018 the European Commission signed the Implementing Decision on the Rail Baltica cross-border project on the North Sea-Baltic Core Network Corridor hereby ensuring the commitment of the EC and all EU member states to implement the project.
- Rail Baltica project is a key EU infrastructure project included in the transport net priority lists, marked on the main transport corridor development maps and is gaining momentum in fostering security in the Baltic region.