Today, Rail Baltica delivery organization in Estonia signed a contract for the construction of one of the most unique sections of the route, where the tracks will partially run through a trench up to 10 meters below ground level. The construction of this 9.2 km stretch of the main line will cost €70.8 million and will be executed by OÜ Verston and OÜ Järelpinge Inseneribüroo, who won the tender with a joint bid. This section is situated between Soodevahe and Kangru in Rae Parish.
According to Anvar Salomets, Chairman of the Management Board of Rail Baltic Estonia, the Rail Baltica project is not just transport infrastructure – it is Estonia’s future connection to Europe. “Our goal is to provide a modern, safe, and environmentally friendly railway that serves both people and nature. Today, we moved 9.2 kilometers closer to achieving that goal,” he said.
He added that the aim is to reach agreements and begin construction on at least one-third of Estonia’s 213-kilometer Rail Baltica main line this year – approximately 70 kilometers. To date, contracts have been signed or construction is underway for 65 kilometers of the main line in Estonia. This section is one of the most unique in terms of construction – it is the only part of the route where the train will travel in a trench for a total of five kilometers. The trench resembles the Lasnamäe canal, with natural limestone walls rising on both sides of the track. The railway will run through a trench that varies in width from 55 to 75 meters, with the deepest point being 10 meters from ground level to the tracks.
For Verston, this is the fourth contract for a section of the Rail Baltica main line. According to the company’s CEO, Veiko Veskimäe, completing Rail Baltica will require very close cooperation between all parties. “As contractors, we are dedicated to finding solutions, as it is clear that in a project of this scale, things do not happen easily by themselves. Achieving our shared goal requires the intelligence, commitment, and genuine effort of all parties to find the best solutions, even in the most challenging situations,” emphasized Veskimäe. “It is important that, when the project is completed, both people and nature are satisfied, and that the solutions consider the needs of both.”
The Rail Baltica railway will pass under Põrguvälja Road, where Verston is already building technical systems and a viaduct, which will be completed in November. Under the newly signed contract, an embankment for Soodevahe station will be constructed, along with a railway bridge over the Kurna stream, the Uuesalu viaduct, and the Rae wildlife overpass. “Rail Baltica is an important step toward greener transportation, offering fast and environmentally sustainable connections. The Rae wildlife overpass, located above the trench, will provide a safe passage for wildlife, helping preserve the natural environment,” Salomets noted.
On the Soodevahe-Kangru section of the main line, the Tallinn-Tartu Highway viaduct has already been completed. In November, in addition to the Põrguvälja viaduct, a viaduct for technical networks located nearby will also be completed. By the end of the year, the railway bridge over the Vaskjala-Ülemiste canal and the Rae highway viaduct will also be finished.
This section of the route will include the important Assaku stop for Rae parish. The parish plans to develop a transport hub in Assaku, where county buses will also stop in addition to the train. As part of the contract, platforms will be built in the trench, with structural supports for crossings, up to the platform level. The remaining part of the station will be constructed later under a separate contract when work on the railway superstructure is carried out.
The duration of the construction contract is 40 months, meaning the Soodevahe-Kangru section of the main route must be completed by January 2028. The construction contract is financed by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and the Estonian state budget.