This week, Rail Baltica participated in “Elmia Nordic Rail”, the largest railway fair in the Nordic region, hosted in Jönköping, Sweden. This event provided the platform for our team to share insights into the progress of the Baltic’s most ambitious railway infrastructure project and connect with industry experts.
During the exhibition, the Rail Baltica global project team offered a comprehensive look at the project’s ongoing and upcoming procurements, as well as the latest advancements in procurements of railway sub-systems, including electrification, control-command, and signaling. Attendees were also privy to discussions about construction preparations and other related topics, shedding light on the future of sustainable transportation.
On the second day of the fair, Rail Baltica participated in Elmia Nordic Rail’s TechTalks. Kristjan Piirsalu, Director of Contracting Strategy at RB Rail AS, took the stage to discuss how infrastructure megaprojects are reshaping the landscape of future mobility.
Throughout the exhibition, our team engaged with suppliers and fielded numerous inquiries about future operations, timelines, and the acquisition model for rolling stock. Face-to-face interactions with Rail Baltica representatives were highly appreciated by industry players, underscoring their importance in ensuring consistent supplier involvement in the project.
Kristjan Piirsalu emphasized the significance of the event, saying, “Nordic Rail provided us with a good opportunity to catch up with the Nordic railway market, connect with peers, and share experiences on project implementation and challenges. The evolving circumstances and market volatility in recent years have necessitated adjustments in our approach. While Rail Baltica is advancing in its design and construction phases, the rolling stock market presents unique challenges.”
Mārtiņš Blaus, Head of Procurement at RB Rail AS, echoed this sentiment, underscoring the significance of engaging with our northern neighbors and infrastructure managers. He emphasized, “Gaining insights from the region’s well-established rail systems, experiences, and principles holds immense value, especially for a greenfield project like Rail Baltica. We are pioneering the high-speed rail market as we go along, where no pre-existing framework exists.” Blaus further noted, “It is crucial to exhibit our project’s progress to attract partners within the Northern European market, stimulating healthy competition.”
Learn more about Rail Baltica’s market engagement strategies in our latest issue of Rail Baltica in Economic Focus.