Foreign ministry sees no need to resume passenger train service between Vilnius and Minsk (media)

VILNIUS - With Vilnius considering Minsk's proposal to resume passenger train service between the two capitals, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry says it sees no need to do so, the 15min news portal has reported.

"The Foreign Ministry currently sees no grounds or reasons to resume passenger rail service with the Republic of Belarus," the ministry said in a comment to 15min on Monday.

The 15min news portal reported last week that Lithuania had received a proposal from Minsk through the Warsaw-based Organization for Cooperation between Railways (OSJD) to restore passenger train service.

Transport minister’s spokesman Lukas Paskevicius told the portal that the proposal was being considered and awaiting evaluation by the interior and foreign ministries and the State Security Department (SSD).

Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas said earlier on Monday that Lithuania would not rush to respond to Belarus' proposal to restore passenger rail service between the two countries, which was being considered in accordance with usual working procedures, just like any other proposal received.

Passenger train service between Lithuania and Belarus was suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It has not yet been resumed, despite repeated requests from Minsk.

Regular buses run between Lithuania and Belarus daily at present.