The Rail Baltica project worth 4 billion dollars is designed to connect the capitals of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with Warsaw. According to the journalists, this is an infrastructural and symbolic step that should bring the former Soviet republics even closer to the European Union.
The construction of a high-speed railway line connecting the Baltic countries with Poland and the rest of Europe has begun. Newsweek writes about it.
The Rail Baltica project worth $4 billion is designed to connect the capitals of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with Warsaw. Journalists call it both an infrastructural and a symbolic step, which should bring the former Soviet republics even closer to the European Union in a period of high tension between Western Europe and the Russian Federation.
The full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation into Ukraine prompted the Baltic states to take measures to reduce dependence from the Russian infrastructure and supply of energy carriers.
Historically, the Baltic countries have relied on rail systems using Russian gauge, but Rail Baltica will have standard European gauge.
This is a big project both in terms of scale and finances. The estimated cost of Rail Baltica is estimated at 5.8 billion euros, it is one of the most significant infrastructure projects in the region. It is largely financed by the EU — up to 85% of costs go through the Connecting Europe Facility Fund.
The length of Rail Baltica — 870 km. Trains will travel along this line at a speed of up to 234 km/h, which will significantly reduce travel time and increase the efficiency of passenger and cargo transportation. The completion of the project is expected by 2030. It promises significant economic benefits, including 36,000 jobs and increased trade opportunities, said the ERB Rail JV consortium behind the project.
“We are making a strategic investment for our entire region,” — according to the press release of Artur Popka, CEO and chairman of the board of Budimex.