Three parties - the Lithuanian branch RB Rail, The Lithuanian Ministry of Transportation and Communications and Ardanuy Ingenieria S.A. - have signed the contract on conduction of the upgrade feasibility study for the section "Polish/Lithuanian state border-Kaunas-RRT Palemonas" as a result of the open tender in which seven companies participated. According to the contract, the upgrade feasibility study will be completed in December 2017.
Lithuania has completed a new European standard gauge (1435mm) section between "Polish/Lithuanian state border-Kaunas" in 2015 and continues development and construction of Kaunas node sections (Jiesia-Rokai, Rokai-Palemonas, and Palemonas-Kaunas). Its technical parameters differ from the ones set for the Rail Baltica Global project (fast conventional double track electrified, ERTMS equipped railway line with a design speed of 240 km/h), for example, the current maximum design speed for the passenger travel is 120 km/h versus 240 km/h, single-track versus double-track, one-level crossings versus two-level crossings, RB Rail said.
The purpose of the study is to analyze the feasibility of, and measures required to, upgrade the existing 1435 mm gauge railway line from the "Polish/Lithuanian state border–Kaunas–RRT Palemonas" to achieve full compliance with the Rail Baltica Global project definition specified in CEF 1 and CEF 2 Grant Agreements and in the RB RAIL AS Shareholders' Agreement and other key technical parameters (Global Project Standards).
Ardanuy Ingenierķa, S.A. is an engineering consulting firm specialized in studies, designs, works supervision, and Independent Safety Assessments (ISA), Due Diligences; and technical assistance for railways, roads, buildings, electrical engineering and telecommunications.
RB Rail is a multi-national joint venture of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which has been established to implement Rail Baltica - the first pan-Baltic infrastructure project of its kind. RB Rail is the central coordinator for the Rail Baltica project. The project involves the construction of a high-speed rail line infrastructure from Tallinn to the Lithuanian/Polish border with the help of the EU funds.
