The European Commission has adopted a decision setting out key deadlines and milestones for the completion of the large-scale cross-border railway project Rail Baltica, which aims to significantly improve transport connectivity in the EU. The decision was unanimously supported by all Member States and marks an important step towards the full integration of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania into the European rail network by 2030.
Rail Baltica is a TEN-T priority project that will connect Poland, the Baltic States and Finland, also providing indirect links with Ukraine. The use of the European gauge creates a new north-south corridor in the Baltic region, promoting the development of passenger and freight transport, sustainable transport and strengthening military mobility in the framework of EU-NATO cooperation. European Coordinator Katherine Trautmann noted the strategic importance of Rail Baltica for economic development, tourism and the overall security of the EU.
RB Rail AS CEO Marko Kivila welcomed the Commission’s decision, stressing that it opens the legal basis for further implementation of the project. The first phase of construction envisages an electrified single-track line from Tallinn to the Lithuanian-Polish border, with completion by 2030. The subsequent double-track network will be built as funding becomes available, with a focus on connecting key transport hubs. Accelerated decision-making and sustainable funding are now critical to the successful implementation of the project.