The construction works for the initial sections of the Rail Baltica railway mainline in Estonia will commence in the spring of 2024. Today, Rail Baltic Estonia, the national implementing body of Rail Baltica in Estonia, announced tenders for the construction of the underlying infrastructure and intersections for the 52.6 kilometers of the mainline.
Together with upcoming contract sections, construction activities are expected to take place on 74 kilometers of the Rail Baltica Estonian route within a year, constituting over a third of the entire length of the Estonian mainline. In Harju County, the railway construction will extend from the Ülemiste terminal to the county border.
"The construction of the Rail Baltica mainline is undoubtedly a priority for us in 2024 and the following years. One year from now, we aim to see active railway infrastructure construction on more than a third of the Estonian part of the future high-speed railway. This will allow us to stay on schedule to commence rail traffic in 2030," said Anvar Salomets, the Chief Executive Officer of Rail Baltic Estonia.
According to Salomets, the recently announced tenders for the mainline construction are likely to be the last handled as short segments. "We are changing the tender strategy for the remaining railway infrastructure and superstructure, and currently, we are also looking for a consultant to proceed with the so-called alliance model," explained Salomets.
Today, tenders were announced for the construction of five mainline sections in Harju and Rapla counties: Soodevahe – Kangru; Kangru – Saku; Saku – Harju/Rapla county border; Hagudi – Alu; Alu – Kärpla. Over 20 railway intersections have already been completed or are under construction on these sections.
The estimated total cost of the published tenders is approximately 400 million euros. The length of the construction contract varies between 40-48 months depending on the section.
About Rail Baltica
Rail Baltica is one of Europe's largest high-speed infrastructure projects, aiming to establish a modern and sustainable rail link that connects the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania with the European rail network. It is also a part of the trans-European transport corridor.
Rail Baltica will be a fully electrified, double-track railway with a standard gauge of 1435 mm and will be equipped with ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System) and designed to meet European standards. With a design speed of 249 km/h, Rail Baltica will significantly reduce travel times between the Baltic States and major European cities. It will serve as a modern infrastructure for passenger, freight, and military mobility, promoting accessibility and facilitating business, tourism, and cultural exchange. Additionally, the project will enhance the Baltic region's position as a vital transit hub, fostering stronger trade connections and promoting regional cooperation.
About RB Rail AS
RB Rail AS is a multinational joint venture of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania established to lead and coordinate the implementation of the Rail Baltica Global Project, the first infrastructure development project of this scale in the Baltic region. More about Rail Baltica global project: www.railbaltica.org
For more information:
Signe Nīgale
Head of Communication and International Relations Department
RB Rail AS
Phone number: +371 29116146
E-mail: signe.nigale@railbaltica.org
www.railbaltica.org