Kaunas-Vilnius Railway Project Meeting Wraps Up with Extended Deadline for Public Proposals

The final meeting on the special plan for the Kaunas-Vilnius railway line of Rail Baltica was held last week in Vilnius, where revised solutions were presented and discussed.

The project, a crucial part of the largest railway infrastructure development in the Baltic States, aims to connect major cities across Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia with an electrified European-standard railway. The meeting extended the deadline for public proposals, which can now be submitted through the TPS "Gate" information system until August 22.

To date, 93 questions and proposals have been submitted, mainly concerning infrastructure development, access to plots, and communication with existing buildings. Vice Minister of Communications Mindaugas Tarnauskas mentioned the importance of considering public input, saying, "We are mobilizing the forces of experts so that each proposal is evaluated responsibly and, if it is substantiated, the solutions of the special plan are adjusted accordingly, as far as the parameters of this project allow." The responses to these proposals will be provided by August 23, with the final plan expected to be approved by the end of the year.

During the meeting, the refined solutions for the Kaunas-Vilnius line were showcased, including details on two-level crossings, technical specifications, and environmental impact assessments. Mantas Jasikonis, Rail Baltica's Kaunas-Vilnius program manager, said, "Due to changes in relevant information systems that took place during the territorial planning process, the acceptance of proposals through the TPS "Gate" information system was additionally extended until August 22. During the preparation of the special plan, an environmental impact assessment (EIA) of economic activity is also carried out, during which it is planned to implement noise reduction measures. This plan is being prepared and will be presented in the fall."

The construction of the Rail Baltica line promises to significantly reduce travel time between Vilnius and Kaunas to just 38 minutes, enhancing regional connectivity and economic development. Joint venture partners UAB Sweco Lietuva and DB Engineering & Consulting GmbH are leading the development of the engineering infrastructure plan for this critical section of the project. The broader Rail Baltica initiative will ultimately span 870 kilometers across the Baltic States.

Source: LTG Infra; Rail Baltica