On 31 January, 2017, Baiba Rubesa, CEO and Chairperson of the Management Board of the joint venture “RB Rail AS”, met for the first time with Rokas Masiulis, Lithuanian Minister of Transport and Communications, and Mantas Bartuška, Director General of “Lietuvos geležinkeliai” (JSC “Lithuanian Railways”) to discuss Rail Baltic/Rail Baltica project development and topical issues.
During her visit to Vilnius Baiba Rubesa was welcomed by the Transport and Communications Minister Rokas Masiulis at the Ministry of Transport and Communications. Both parties expressed the wish to closely cooperate and coordinate implementation of Rail Baltic/Rail Baltica project in the efficient and pragmatic manner. The approval of the special plan from Kaunas to the Latvian border was noted as a significant step in alignment of the route in the project implementation process. Ms. Rubesa introduced the Minister with her vision on the railway as an emerging economic corridor in the North-Eastern Europe. Also, they discussed the projects’ progress and the plans for this year in three Baltic countries, especially in Lithuania, including additional efforts needed to attract cargo and start developing Rail Baltic/Rail Baltica as a business case. The Minister emphasized that it is essential to encourage the European Union institutions to envisage a long-term financing horizon for the project at the current co-financing rate of 85 percent, including Vilnius-Kaunas connection as part of the Rail Baltic/Rail Baltica. While speaking about the Global project objectives, Ms Rubesa noted necessity to demonstrate the project’s maturity. Parties exchanged views on the possible options to ensure effective manner of the project management. Also, they debated the financial needs for the railway construction and the plans to engage more actively Finland and Poland in the project’s implementation.
In addition, during her visit Baiba Rubesa met for the first time with Mantas Bartuška, the Director General of “Lietuvos geležinkeliai”, and other members of the executive management to discuss the Rail Baltic/Rail Baltica project. Ms. Rubesa expressed her gratitude to new management of “Lietuvos geležinkeliai” for open and collaborative approach in project implementation. Mr. Bartuška emphasized the commitment to implement Rail Baltic/Rail Baltica project and its importance for the region. During the meeting, they conversed the vision of the new “Lietuvos geležinkeliai” management on the construction of the European gauge railway, specifically addressing the topical issues in Lithuania, the alignment of the railway connection construction on Lithuanian and Polish border and the Rail Baltic/Rail Baltica railway development plans in Poland.