“Efficient long-distance communication system with aligned bus and train routes corresponding to the municipalities’ needs is one of the highest priorities on our list. We would like Lithuanian citizens to have a real alternative to personal cars when travelling. While undertaking this challenging task, we call on all stakeholders, i. e. carriers, municipalities, national institutions and organisations, to join our efforts in finding ways to improve the current system so that carriers operate under conditions of competition and residents can conveniently reach any location in Lithuania via regular communication routes,” said the Minister during the meeting.
The Ministry stressed that it is not to take any unilateral decisions with regard to the changes to the current system. It is expected that the long-distance communication system will be improved with the joint effort of all partners by getting to the root of the situation at hand, by analysing the data collected by carriers and municipalities, and by drawing on other countries’ experience. In case of any necessity to perform a deeper analysis in order to select the most appropriate solutions, the Ministry might use experts who would prepare a feasibility study.
While the meeting participants emphasized the Competition Council's requirement to select carriers on the basis of a tender, they also remarked that currently, until an in-depth analysis is still pending, this requirement is to be satisfied by adding more inter-city bus routes instead of changing or eliminating the current ones.
The Minister called on all partners to share their information and data on route planning, financial and other indicators. In order to improve the communication map it is necessary to seek comprehensive and regular dialogue between all stakeholders and to ensure that all decisions are made through discussion, openly and by mutual agreement.
“We aim at developing an optimum long-distance and regional communication network with aligned regular communication bus and train routes so that people enjoy convenient and quality travel and have a good alternative to personal cars,” the Minister Skuodis said.
The Advisory Council consists of representatives of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Lithuanian National Road Carriers Association LINAVA, Lithuanian Transport Safety Administration, Lithuanian Passenger Transport Association, Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists, Kaunas Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts Council, Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania, LTG Link UAB and the Ministry of the Interior.
