According to Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius, it will depend on Poland's willingness to reconstruct the railway section from the Lithuanian-Polish border to Bialystok in Poland.
Lithuania says that Poland should reconstruct the railway line from Bialystok to the border with Lithuania as soon as possible. Reconstruction is vital because the speed in the section from the Lithuanian-Polish border to Bialystok is very low – at some points, trains can only develop 30 km/h speed.
"We have discussed the issue with the commissioner (European Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc – Elta) today during her visit. We have asked Poland to make their investments in the section and then, after reconstruction, we expect the passenger train to start operating. The average speed requirement for passenger trains is at least 160 km/h or, even better, 240 km/h," the PM said.
Commissioner Bulc said that the issue is being discussed with the Polish minister of infrastructure and the country is urged to assign a higher priority to the Rail Baltica project development.