Ēriks Diļevs appointed as interim Chairman of the Board of “Eiropas Dzelzceļa līnijas”

  • 2024-05-03

On 3 May 2024, at the general meeting of shareholders of “Eiropas Dzelzceļa līnijas” (EDzL), the former head of the Latvian branch of the Rail Baltica joint venture RB Rail AS, Ēriks Diļevs, was temporarily appointed as the Chairman of the Board and will start assuming his new duties as of 3 May.

“The extensive experience of Ēriks working in Rail Baltica, in combination with his technical and team management knowledge, is a significant aspect in ensuring the operation of EDzL until the appointment of a new board,” said Ligita Austrupe, Acting State Secretary of the Ministry of Transport.

Ēriks has more than 18 years of experience in the transport sector. Since 2018, he has been working at RB Rail, initially as the head of the Roads and Engineering Communications Department, and later holding the position of Technical Director in Latvia. Since the beginning of 2023, Ēriks has been the head of the Latvian branch of RB Rail and was responsible for leading the branch’s team, strategic planning, and cooperation with project stakeholders. Before joining the Rail Baltica project team, he worked for over 5 years on international projects in the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and Latvia.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to join the team of Eiropas Dzelzceļa līnijas. I consider myself a true patriot and ambassador of the Rail Baltica project and I believe that in this transformative phase, I can support the team and the project to delivery on the works necessary to ensure success of the project. We need to strengthen cooperation between the project partners, complete designs, accelerate construction works on the mainline in the Latvian part of the infrastructure, and cooperate in a coherent and well-thought-out approach for managing the financing as well as project’s reputation questions, among other areas of focus,” said Ēriks Diļevs.

“Ēriks has been instrumental in his previous roles in RB Rail AS and I wish him success in his new role,” said Marko Kivila, interim CEO and Chairman of the management board at RB Rail AS.

About Rail Baltica 

Rail Baltica is one of Europe's largest high-speed infrastructure projects, aiming to establish a modern and sustainable rail link that connects the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania with the European rail network. It is also a part of the trans-European transport corridor.

Rail Baltica will be a fully electrified, double-track railway with a standard gauge of 1435 mm and will be equipped with ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System) and designed to meet European standards. With a design speed of 249 km/h, Rail Baltica will significantly reduce travel times between the Baltic States and major European cities. It will serve as a modern infrastructure for passenger, freight, and military mobility, promoting accessibility and facilitating business, tourism, and cultural exchange. Additionally, the project will enhance the Baltic region's position as a vital transit hub, fostering stronger trade connections and promoting regional cooperation.

About RB Rail AS 

RB Rail AS is a multinational joint venture of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania established to lead and coordinate the implementation of the Rail Baltica Global Project, the first infrastructure development project of this scale in the Baltic region. More about Rail Baltica global project: www.railbaltica.org