News

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Klaipėda on 21 June, which provides for closer cooperation in decision-making on the development of the new European rail line to Klaipėda.

The Memorandum was signed by the heads of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, LTG Infra, the public railway infrastructure manager of the Lithuanian Railways Group (LTG), the Klaipėda State Seaport Authority, the municipalities of Klaipėda city and Klaipėda district. The signatories to the Memorandum agreed to take a joint decision on the optimal alternative for the railway route to Klaipėda.

According to the Minister of Transport and Communications Marius Skuodis, who took part in the round table discussion initiated jointly by the Ministry of Transport and Communications and LTG, the European railway line to Klaipėda is of particular importance for Lithuania and the whole Baltic Sea region.

“The first legal basis has already been established at the EU level: the European rail link to Klaipėda has been included in the EU-wide TEN-T Regulation, in other words, it has been recognised as a project of European interest. This link is not only an excellent opportunity to increase the resilience of the EU transport system as a whole, but also an important prerequisite for full passenger and freight mobility and military mobility. Now there is no longer a question whether it is needed, and we are moving to the next stage: we need to decide together, through a joint debate, which alternative to the new railway line to Klaipėda would best meet the needs of local communities, municipalities, businesses and the country as a whole,” said Minister of Transport and Communications, Skuodis.

According to LTG Group CEO Egidijus Lazauskas, LTG is currently planning to carry out an architectural modelling study of the Lithuanian railway network. On the basis of this study, at least three alternatives will be developed, which will cover technological and technical development options and compliance with regulatory enactments. The initial possible alternatives for the European track to Klaipėda are via Šiauliai, from Kaunas via Tauragė or Pagėgiai, or from Kazlų Rūda via Tauragė.

“The European railway to Klaipėda will provide opportunities to improve transport and logistics links in the Baltic region and Eastern Europe, create an attractive alternative to road transport, and help diversify the activities of Klaipėda Seaport and open up new markets,” stated Lazauskas.

Algis Latakas, Head of Klaipėda State Seaport Authority, says that the Authority will make efforts to ensure the viability of the project by integrating its solutions into the port area development plans, as well as providing forecasts of cargo flows and justification of benefits.

It is of utmost importance for the Port of Klaipėda that this project is implemented as soon as possible, as once the Rail Baltica railway becomes operational, cargo flows may settle down, bypassing the Lithuanian port city, which would have a significant impact on the port's competitiveness.

“The European railway line to Klaipėda Port is a crucial step for the port's integration into the transport network of Central and Western Europe. This project would not only improve the efficiency of freight transport but also strengthen our competitiveness in the region. The European railway is crucial for diversifying the port's activities and opening up new markets,” said Latakas.

On 13 June, the Council of the EU approved the new Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) Regulation, the changes to which will have an impact on the transition of the existing rail network to the European rail network. As proposed by Lithuania, the TEN-T Regulation foresees the connection of Lithuania and the Port of Klaipėda to the Baltic, Black Sea and Adriatic corridors via a 1435 mm wide European rail track.

A European-gauge railway line to Klaipėda would fundamentally change Lithuania's transport system: it would speed up connections between Vilnius and Klaipėda, and help to diversify Klaipėda's port and railway activities more quickly. The European rail link to Klaipėda is also important for military mobility.