Latvia initiates construction of Rail Baltica mainline

The Rail Baltica project is pivotal in providing a fast and reliable connection for the Baltic region with Western Europe, particularly given the current geopolitical conditions. The primary objective is to establish a cross-border connection by 2030, including the integration of Riga. Kaspars Briškens, Latvia’s Minister of Transport, emphasized the importance of this project and expressed confidence in the collaboration with partner teams from France, Italy, and Poland, highlighting the thorough preliminary work that has paved the way for experienced builders to take over.

French Minister of Foreign Trade Franck Riester underscored Rail Baltica's role in moving towards a "Europe of trains," a vision championed by French President Emmanuel Macron. Riester expressed pride in France's contribution to the project, bringing its rail sector expertise to a united European effort. Catherine Trautmann, European Coordinator for the North Sea-Baltic TEN-T Corridor, emphasized Rail Baltica's necessity for economic development and closer ties between the Baltic countries and Europe, especially in light of the war. The project is supported by the European Commission and showcases the transition to a modern railway system, leveraging Latvia's successful mobilization of knowledge and expertise.

The construction of approximately 230 km of the mainline railway in Latvia will be overseen by the joint venture ERB Rail JV, employed by Eiropas Dzelzceļa līnijas. This includes significant infrastructure such as 175 engineering structures, 11 animal crossings, 42 viaducts, 81 road bridges, and 32 rail bridges. Initial construction will begin in the Bauska region near Iecava, where a 16.5-hectare infrastructure maintenance facility will be located, serving as a logistics base for the mainline construction. This facility will integrate with the existing 1520 mm track network, optimizing the transportation of construction materials and machinery.

The commencement of construction signifies a major milestone for Rail Baltica, making the project more tangible. This year, over 150 km of the mainline will be under construction, with success dependent on collaboration among various project partners and contractors. The total estimated cost of the works, including railway substructures, embankments, road crossings, and superstructures, is around 3.7 billion euros, with the specifics to be finalized after the Design Review Phase. Managed by Eiropas Dzelzceļa līnijas and supervised by Italferr, the contract is overseen by the Ministry of Transport. The international consortium ERB Rail JV, consisting of Eiffage Génie Civil SAS, Budimex S.A., and Rizzani de Eccher S.p.A., brings extensive experience and will collaborate with local engineers and students from the Technical University of Riga to ensure the project's success.