RAIL BALTICA – Building a New Economic Corridor
By Timo Riihimäki, Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of the Management Board
project. However, the project benefits span way beyond the Baltic borders. Once completed the the missing link in the European railway system will finally be added, closing the existing gap and bringing countries closer than ever.
At the beginning of April, the annual Rail Baltica Global Forum welcomed more than 700 rail enthusiasts and experts in Vilnius, the capital city of Lithuania. 40% of the participants arrived to the forum by plane, another 30% – by car. These proportions are expected to significantly change in 2026, when the Rail Baltica highspeed train will be launched in the Baltic States and Europe.
Why is Rail Baltica important? The Rail Baltica Global Project – an 870km railway line that will connect the Baltic States, Finland and Poland with the rest of Europe – will create opportunities for people in the region to increase their prospects and it is already doing so in the design and construction phases of the 10
Many infrastructure and mobility policy goals are reached with the Rail Baltica project on the European level, starting with providing a link between the East and West of the EU, bringing Member States and regions closer to each other, ensuring a sustainable way of transportation and moving cargo distribution from roads to rail. Current megatrends – urbanisation, digitalisation and sustainability – are all in favour of Rail Baltica, which will provide efficient transportation solutions for passengers and freight and will help the region to address challenges posed by the climate change.