48 POLICIES & STRATEGIES
for this year envisaged in the state’s budget and enterprise, which will participate as a Shareholder in Joint venture is already established. Railway PRO: What can you tell us about the elaboration of the study for the preparation of the project, of the environment assessment report on Rail Baltica in Lithuania? What about in the other countries? Vidmantas Tamulis: JSC “Sweco Lithuania” carried out European standard railway line Kaunas – Lithuanian-Latvian border strategic environmental assessment and presented report in March 2014 (document can be found on the following web address http://www.sweco.lt/lt/Lithuania/Apie-Sweco/Pranesimai/RaiBalticaSPAV-dokumentai-galutinis/SEA-ReportEN-Final/). While carrying out strategic environmental assessment two alternatives were chosen: the existing railway line passing through Siauliai, marked in the General plan of the territory of the Republic of Lithuania and railway line proposed by AECOM Limited in a feasibility study passing through Panevezys. As a more beneficial alternative was proposed railway line passing through Panevezys. Environmental assessment report was aligned with Latvia. Other preparatory works are undergoing now, they should be finished in 2015. Railway PRO: Regarding the activity of ports,
how can railways ensure a higher traffic flow to ports? What is the importance of railways in the mechanisms and activities of ports? Vidmantas Tamulis: Railways can ensure a higher traffic flows to ports by providing rapid and smooth freight transportation and applying competitive transportation tariffs. Besides, communication with railways and ports of other countries is also very important, because it helps to attract and transport freight from other countries and brings mutual benefits for these countries. Railways are very important in the activities of ports, because they can transport huge amount of freight in the shortest time, with the lowest possible cost and are very convenient for the port operations. www.railwaypro.com | May 2014
Railway PRO: How are railway infrastructure investments correlated to ports investments to increase the accessibility of ports? Vidmantas Tamulis: Investments into railway infrastructure are orientated to ensure better transportation of freight to the port by removing bottlenecks, and where necessary building second railway lines. Railway sidings inside the port are also being upgraded to better serve the port’s needs. Railway PRO: According to EU policies, in the future, road transport will no longer be a solution for the transport of freight on distances higher than 300 km and, therefore, it is important to encourage alternative transport solutions, especially railway solutions. What is Lithuania’s strategy to answer to this challenge from the point of view of freight transport services and what is the role of the terminals in increasing the attractiveness of railway transport? Vidmantas Tamulis: Transportation by railways already has significant share in the Lithuania (around 48% of freight were transported by railways in 2013 in Lithuania). Lithuania is planning investments in railway infrastructure, which reduces bottlenecks in Lithuanian railway system and ensures rapid freight transportation. Besides Lithuania together with partner countries are implementing container trains projects, which can offer better tariffs for freight transportation, rapid customs procedures and shorter transportation time comparing with road transport. Container trains projects are really important in attracting freight to railways and transportation of freight by these trains are constantly growing each year. For example container train “Mercury” during 2012 transported 361 TEU, during 2013 – 1633 TEU (+450% growth). Container train “Sun” during 2011 transported 82 TEU, during 2012 – 354 TEU. during 2013 – 1188 TEU (+350% growth). Railway terminals are also very important, because they serve as a cargo collecting point, ensure rapid and smooth loading and unloading procedures and formation of trains.
Railway PRO: The transport business segment focuses more and more on building efficient transport connections between Eastern and Western Europe. In this context, what is the role of Baltic States in supplying efficient and performing transport services? Vidmantas Tamulis: Lithuania and other Baltic States are situated between the large markets of Baltic Sea region, Western Europe and Eastern countries and from old times are well-known as attractive transport countries. There is one more advantage of Lithuania over Western European countries and other Baltic countries – a well-developed Russian railway gauge system as in Russia, Belorussia and in other CIS countries and assurance of connection with EU transport system. In Sestokai railway station (in the south-west Lithuania, near the state border with Poland) wide-gauge (1520 mm) and the European standard (1435 mm) railway gauges converge. Here railway carriages to Poland take place, therefore this station is very important transit point between the Baltic States and the Western European countries. Since 2015, when Rail Baltica line will reach Kaunas, this transit point will move to Kaunas. Container train projects are also very important in supplying efficient and performing railway transport services. For example container train “Sun” connects Western Europe, Lithuania and China. Transit from Chongqing (China) to Antwerp (Belgium) through Sestokai (Lithuania) can be carried in 18 days. Other container trains includes routes, to Kazakhstan, Russia, Belorussia, Ukraine, Turkey, Moldova and other eastern countries.
Состояние инфраструктуры является одним из основных факторов, способствующих увеличению доли железнодорожных перевозок На период 2014-2020 гг. Литва установила приоритеты для обеспечения безопасности движения и для уменьшения заторов в железнодорожной системе. Эти меры будут способствовать повышению привлекательности железнодорожных перевозок грузов и пассажиров и уменьшению уровня загрязнения окружающей среды. В этом материале, директор отдела железнодорожного транспорта Министерства транспорта Литвы Видмантас Тамулис проявил любезность и поделился информацией о стратегии Литвы в плане развития и продвижения железнодорожного транспорта, о мерах улучшения показателей логистики и увеличении пропускной способности портов, о важности инвестиций в проекты инфраструктуры, а также о текущем состоянии проекта Rail Baltica.