“Panevėžys region will benefit from this international project of European interest in terms of better transport communication, attracting investment, generating new jobs, developing infrastructure objects and opening up more opportunities for local businesses,” Minister of Transport and Communications Marius Skuodis said.
Rail Baltica implementation involves constructing an electrified European gauge between Kaunas and Lithuanian-Latvian border and building an international rail station, intermodal logistics centre and infrastructure maintenance depot near Panevėžys. Construction works are scheduled to commence this year with the first stage of tenders for EUR 475 million worth of contracting works currently underway.
Panevėžys free economic zone is already being populated with international companies attracted by the perspective of Rail Baltica.
“Railway infrastructure alone will generate new jobs with people required in the logistics centre, railway station and maintenance depot to be built near Panevėžys. Practice shows that a single new railway job generates at least several new ones in external infrastructures. We believe that an open dialogue with the region’s administration and business community builds a strong foundation not only for Rail Baltica itself but also for the development of the region,” LTG Infra Rail Baltica coordination department director Arenijus Jackus underlined.
A strip between Kaunas and Lithuanian-Latvian border is one of the most complex sections of Rail Baltica. The 169 km strip is to be equipped with 21 road overpasses, 31 rail overpasses, 7 green bridges and 7 railway bridges, along with a new railway station near Panevėžys. Moreover, a construction of the longest railway bridge of Rail Baltica across the river Neris in Lithuania is scheduled to start in 2021.
The new railway will benefit both businesses and residents. It is estimated that a train trip from Panevėžys to Kaunas is to take 37 minutes and from Panevėžys to Riga – 55 minutes.
Rail Baltica is a greenfield rail transport infrastructure project with a goal to integrate the Baltic States in the European rail network. 870 km of high-speed double-track electrified railway with 249 km/h speed trains is to cross Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
More remote meetings with Marijampolė and Vilnius region municipalities are scheduled to be held in April and May.