Budimex Joins Elite Consortium to Forge New Rail Baltica Link in Latvia

The end of the year marked a significant advancement in European rail connectivity with the signing of a EUR 3.7 billion contract for the construction of the Rail Baltica line in Latvia. The ERB RAIL consortium, which includes Poland's Budimex, France's Eiffage Génie Civil, and Italy's Rizzani de Eccher, has been entrusted with building the 230-kilometer high-speed railroad.

This project, set to commence in 2024 and span over eight years, aims to integrate the Baltic countries into the European rail network, creating an essential link between Tallinn and Warsaw.

Budimex, holding a 30% share in the consortium, will be responsible for constructing crucial civil engineering facilities and laying the track along this transformative stretch. The project encompasses the construction of 175 civil engineering structures and 11 animal crossings, signifying its vast scale and complexity. Notably, the project receives substantial financial backing, with 85% financed by the European Connecting Europe Fund and 15% by the Republic of Latvia.

Artur Popko, CEO of Budimex SA, highlights this venture as a major triumph for Poland, positioning it as a key player in what is set to be Latvia's largest infrastructure investment. "It is [also] a success for our country - Poland - that it will be the general contractor for the largest infrastructure investment in Latvia with a total value exceeding PLN 16 billion," said Popko.

2023 has been a pivotal year for Budimex, marking its robust expansion into foreign markets, including significant projects in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Meanwhile, Rail Baltica is part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), representing a crucial step in uniting the EU regionally and economically. It's designed to bolster trade, support a single European market, and offer a sustainable transport alternative, contributing significantly to reducing CO2 emissions.