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A group of experts from the three Baltic countries is developing a Rail Baltica infrastructure management model to ensure the smooth organization of international operations once the high-speed European railway is built and operational. This model would be an innovation in the European rail industry, which currently lacks a simplified way for carriers to provide services across national borders. Additionally, Rail Baltica plans to establish a joint corridor through all three Baltic States.

The group of experts includes representatives from Rail Baltic Estonia, Eiropas Dzelzceļa Līnijas, the temporary manager of Rail Baltica railway infrastructure in Latvia, and Lithuania’s LTG Infra, which will manage the new railway infrastructure in their respective countries.

Without precedent

The Rail Baltica Special Format for cooperation between rail infrastructure managers was initiated back in 2020 with the ultimate aim of creating an infrastructure management model that ensures open and convenient access to Rail Baltica infrastructure for market operators.

The common infrastructure model is being developed to ensure that future rail customers (railway undertakings) will not experience differences between national borders. Currently, carriers organizing international journeys must apply for the infrastructure capacity in each country and follow different operational requirements of each infrastructure manager.

“We aim to create a Rail Baltica corridor based on the single-window principle, allowing carriers to apply to any of the Baltic countries for train paths for entire Rail Baltica line and operate under single conditions. Such a cross-border service and practice does not yet exist, so the main challenge is to align local legislation, create a unified management model, and ensure its smooth operation,” said Vytis Žalimas, CEO of LTG Infra, the company implementing Rail Baltica in Lithuania.

One of the most important achievements in 2024 is the technical support from the European Commission’s DG REFORM, which assists European Member States in implementing technical and structural reforms.

The European Commission, along with external consultants, has agreed to provide technical assistance to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in developing a common methodology for the efficient implementation of the Rail Baltica project.

“We will now work together to find the best solutions to create the necessary functional and institutional framework, an effective financing model for Rail Baltica infrastructure facilities, such as rolling stock depots, infrastructure maintenance facilities, freight terminals, and passenger train stations,” said Žalimas.

Would increase competitiveness

A new cross-border model for infrastructure management could be shared with other EU countries. Infrastructure managers are constantly considering how to improve service delivery to their customers. “First of all, it would increase our own competitiveness. On the other hand, it would allow carriers to run their services smoothly, conveniently, and efficiently. Improving public services, standardizing the network, and sharing know-how and best practices is a common ambition of the EU,” said Vytis Žalimas, CEO of LTG Infra.

To ensure that train traffic on the Rail Baltica railway infrastructure can start immediately after the project’s completion, the development of the infrastructure management model and the preparation for the operation of the infrastructure are being carried out in parallel with the project implementation.

The overall infrastructure management model comprises 12 components from different areas, such as access to infrastructure, the infrastructure manager’s essential functions of capacity allocation and charges, as well as technical aspects like operating rules, safety requirements, traffic management, infrastructure maintenance, and others.

Rail Baltica is a strategic and the largest railway infrastructure project in the history of the Baltic States. It will provide an electrified European-standard railway linking Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to Central and Western Europe, ensuring regional integration and enhancing both civil and military mobility. The total length of the Rail Baltica line in the Baltic States will reach 870 km: 213 km in Estonia, 265 km in Latvia, and 392 km in Lithuania.