Lithuanian Government has approved a special plan for the development of regional stations on the Rail Baltica section from Kaunas to the Lithuanian-Latvian border, providing the possibility of connecting the Rail Baltica mainline with the regions.
“Regional stations are an important part of the Rail Baltica project, providing more convenient connections and freight transportation opportunities on the new railway. It is now particularly important to ensure that the construction of the European railway is accelerated in Lithuania,” said Mindaugas Tarnauskas, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications.
The Government’s approval of the special plan this Wednesday has made it possible to build regional stations with the necessary engineering infrastructure.
“In the future, according to the needs, priorities and available funding, it will be possible to build up to 7 regional railway stations and stops: the Vaškai passenger station, the Joniškėlis passenger and freight station, the Ramygala passenger stop, the Pasraučiai passenger stop, the Ručiūnai passenger stop, the Jonava freight station and the Jonava passenger stop. The installation of regional railway stations and stops will ensure continuous infrastructure development in the next phases,” said Justas Vyžintas, LTG Infra Head for Rail Baltica Management.
The special plan for the development of regional stations from Kaunas to the Lithuanian-Latvian border was made public in the summer of last year. For each station, 2 alternatives for the development of regional stations were presented.
Construction of Rail Baltica between Kaunas and the Lithuanian-Latvian border started in April 2022. Construction is currently underway on a 29.2 km section towards Panevėžys. A contract was signed this October for construction work on a new 17.1 km section.
According to the solutions of the specific plan, the regional stations and stops from Kaunas to the Lithuanian-Latvian border will be of three types: basic, landmark and platform.
In addition to the international stations in Kaunas, Vilnius, Panevėžys and connections to airports, the Kaunas-Poland border section will also include a station at the Lithuania-Poland border, regional stations in Marijampolė, Šeštokai and Kazlų Rūda, to be connected by regional links, and the Palemonas stop. On the Kaunas-Vilnius section, regional stations are foreseen in Kaišiadorys, Vievis and Lentvaris.