The competition consists of two stages, where the first stage of the competition is the qualification stage. Applications can be submitted by April 14, 2022, in the Latvian procurement system EIS. The second stage of the competition is the proposal submission stage and negotiations. Contract of design and design supervision services for the construction of a new 64 km long line from Kaunas Urban Node to Vilnius Urban Node is planned to be signed by the end of this year. The works will be financed by the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility and Lithuanian state funds.
The subject matter of the competition is to provide design and design supervision services for the construction of railway track substructure, superstructure as well as related civil structures on the new standard gauge (1435 mm) high speed double track electrified railway Rail Baltica line section from Kaunas Urban Node to Vilnius Urban Node.
The preliminary scope of Rail Baltica mainline Kaunas – Vilnius section consists of 1435 mm gauge railway double track of approximately 64 km length, reconstruction of approximately 16 km of the existing 1520 mm gauge railway line, 3 passing loops, 10 road viaducts, 1 road tunnel, 13 railway viaducts, 8 wildlife crossings, 15 culverts and other infrastructure and utilities.
The overall contract is subdivided into smaller sections. Master design services include such activities as site investigations, design proposals, master designs including the acquisition of building permit. The contract also foresees the provision of Detailed Technical Design and Design Author Supervision services to be provided upon request.
“One of the main goals of Rail Baltica project is to integrate the capitals of the Baltic states to the European rail network. The new section Kaunas – Vilnius will open opportunities not only for passengers but also for freight carriers to choose a railway for the delivery of goods within Europe. Regional trains will provide connections to smaller towns and settlements around the new train line. This route will include potential connection points to the cities of Lentvaris, Vievis, and Kaišiadorys”, says Marius Narmontas, Head of Lithuanian Branch at RB Rail AS.
Last year the alternative for the Rail Baltica Kaunas – Vilnius section was approved by the Ministry of Transport and Communications in Lithuania. After numerous discussions with the residents and communities of Vilnius and Kaunas, and the surrounding regions, as well as considering the standards applicable to the European high-speed rail, it was decided that the so-called northern S5 alternative best meets the needs of all stakeholders.
Trains will be able to travel up to 249 km/h on the Rail Baltica railway line. The aim is to ensure connectivity and that the main cities, airports, and Vilnius and Kaunas railway stations can be reached at the shortest possible time. It is planned that the Vilnius region will be served by all planned passenger transport services: high-speed, regional and night trains. According to the Rail Baltica Operational plan, the trains from Kaunas and Vilnius will ride every 30 minutes.
In parallel, specific territories, land plots, and its parts, through which the Rail Baltica railway line will pass, will be determined, and it is planned to make this information public in the second quarter of 2022. The owners and users of the respective land plots will be informed on individual basis.
