An additional nearly 1.16 billion euros has been allocated to the project from the Connecting Europe Facility. EUR support. Together with the national financing of the three Baltic States, a total of 1.43 billion was allocated. Eur. Out of them, 529 million for the implementation of the project in Lithuania. Eur. The European Union (EU) continues to pay attention to the construction of the trunk line and the integration of the Baltic region into the EU.
“Important support from the EU will allow the continuation and acceleration of ongoing construction works and the development of future phases of the project. The signed financing agreement with CINEA shows that the project, which has successfully gained momentum, is appreciated and supported at the international level, with the goal of connecting the Baltic States with Western and Central Europe. Systematic support allows us to hope to implement the project on the scheduled terms and to achieve the long-term strategic goals of the LTG Group, the Baltic States and the EU,” said Egidijus Lazauskas, CEO of the LTG Group.
In Lithuania, the financing is intended for the installation of the main railway track bed in the section Ramygala-Joniškėlis (36.7 km) stretching towards the Latvian border, as well as for the installation of the upper structure of the railway track in the section Kaunas-Ramygala (69 km). Lithuania had previously secured financing for the construction of a 78 km railway bed from Kaunas towards the Latvian border – a total of 114 km section will be built towards Panevėžys.
At the moment, the construction of the embankment is being carried out on the 29.2 km section towards Panevėžys, and a contract has been signed for the contracting works on the new 17.1 km section.
“Compared to 2023, this year from January to the end of September, 60 percent of more construction work. The indicators of the completed works, which increased during the summer period, reached their peak in the fall. This is a joint contribution of the contractor, LTG Infra and the Rail Baltica team in order to maximize the acceleration of the project,” said Vytis Žalimas, CEO of LTG Infra.
This is the largest call for financing of transport infrastructure to date, which provides for the distribution of about 7.06 billion. EUR funds.
Most of them are dedicated to projects aimed at improving EU transport resilience, military mobility and EU climate goals by increasing sustainability. In addition to Rail Baltica, additional financing is intended for the Lyon-Turin high-speed rail line between France and Italy and the Fehmarnbelt tunnel between Denmark and Germany.
“Rail Baltica” is the largest railway infrastructure project in the history of the Baltic States, during the implementation of which an electrified European-standard two-track railway will be built, connecting Warsaw, Kaunas, Vilnius, Panevėžys, Riga, Pern and Tallinn. The total length of the Rail Baltica railway line in the Baltic countries is 870 km: in Lithuania – 392 km, in Latvia – 265 km, in Estonia – 213 km.
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**Interview with Egidijus Lazauskas, CEO of the LTG Group**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Lazauskas. The recent funding announcement of nearly 1.16 billion euros from the Connecting Europe Facility is exciting news for the Baltic region’s railway infrastructure. Can you tell us how this funding will impact the current projects?
**Lazauskas:** Thank you for having me. The additional funding is vital for the progress of our railway projects. It will allow us to accelerate ongoing construction works and move more efficiently into future phases of development. This level of support from the EU not only validates our efforts but also emphasizes the importance of integrating the Baltic States into the wider European framework.
**Editor:** Specifically, you mentioned that 529 million euros will go towards projects in Lithuania. What are the key areas this will be allocated to?
**Lazauskas:** Yes, that’s correct. The financing is aimed primarily at the installation of the main railway track bed in the Ramygala-Joniškėlis section, which is 36.7 kilometers long and heads towards the Latvian border. We are also focusing on the upper structure of the railway track between Kaunas and Ramygala, which covers an additional 69 kilometers. Previously, we secured funding for another 78 kilometers of railway, creating a strategic link toward Panevėžys.
**Editor:** That’s impressive progress. We’ve heard that construction work has significantly increased this year. Can you provide us with some figures?
**Lazauskas:** Certainly! From January to the end of September 2023, we saw a remarkable 60% increase in construction work compared to the same period last year. The momentum has been building especially during the summer, and the completion figures peaked in the fall. This is a testament to the joint efforts of our contractor and LTG Infra.
**Editor:** Looking forward, what are the long-term goals for the LTG Group and the Baltic region’s integration into the EU?
**Lazauskas:** Our long-term strategic goals include enhancing connectivity not just within the Baltic States but also with Western and Central Europe. We aim to create a seamless railway network that allows for efficient movement of people and goods. This project is essential for boosting economic growth and fostering closer ties with the EU.
**Editor:** Thank you for sharing these insights, Mr. Lazauskas. It’s clear that this project is crucial for both Lithuania and the broader Baltic region.
**Lazauskas:** Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to discuss our ongoing efforts in strengthening Baltic connections to the European network.
