A memorandum was signed in Klaipėda to foster closer cooperation in decision-making for developing a new European gauge railway line to Klaipėda.
The memorandum was signed by the heads of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, “LTG Infra” (the public railway infrastructure manager of the “Lithuanian Railways” Group), the Klaipėda Port Authority, and the municipalities of Klaipėda city and Klaipėda district. The signatories agreed to jointly decide on the optimal route for the gauge railway line to Klaipėda.
Minister of Transport and Communications, Marius Skuodis, who participated in the round table discussion co-initiated by the Ministry and LTG, emphasized the significant importance of the European gauge railway line to Klaipėda for Lithuania and the entire Baltic Sea region.
“The first legal basis has already been established at the EU level: the European gauge
railway link to Klaipėda has been included in the EU-wide TEN-T Regulation, in other
words, it has been recognized as a project of pan-European interest. As well as being an
excellent opportunity to increase the resilience of the EU transport system as a whole, this
link is an important prerequisite for full passenger and freight mobility and military mobility. Now there are no more questions about whether it is needed, and we are moving to the next stage: we have to decide together which alternative to the new gauge railway line to Klaipėda would best meet the needs of local communities, municipalities, businesses, and the whole country,” stated M. Skuodis, minister of Transport and Communications.
LTG Group CEO Egidijus Lazauskas announced plans to conduct an architectural modelling study of the Lithuanian railway network. This study will explore at least three alternatives, focusing on technological and technical feasibility as well as regulatory compliance. The initial routes being considered for the European gauge railway to Klaipėda include a route via Šiauliai, a route from Kaunas via Tauragė or Pagėgiai, and a route from Kazlų Rūda via Tauragė.
“The European gauge railway to Klaipėda will provide opportunities to improve transport and logistics connections in the Baltic region and Eastern Europe, create an attractive alternative to road transport, and help Klaipėda Port to diversify its activities and open up new markets,” stated E. Lazauskas.
On 13 June, the Council of the European Union adopted the new Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) Regulation, which will influence the integration of Lithuania’s existing rail network with the European rail network and support the development and expansion of the TEN-T network. As proposed by Lithuania, the regulation includes plans to connect Lithuania and the Port of Klaipėda to the Baltic, Black Sea, and Adriatic corridors via a 1435 mm European gauge railway line.
In addition, this European railway line to Klaipėda will significantly transform Lithuania’s transport system by speeding up connections between Vilnius and Klaipėda and facilitating the rapid diversification of Klaipėda’s port and railway operations. Additionally, the European gauge railway line to Klaipėda will play a crucial role in enhancing military mobility.
