Government approved the infrastructure development plan for Rail Bartica’s Panevėžys node

Today, the Lithuanian Government approved the infrastructure development plan for the Rail Bartica’s Panevėžys railway node. The Government also agreed to launch procedures for land acquisition for public needs, which is expected to last until the end of 2027.

According to the approved engineering infrastructure development plan for the Panevėžys railway node, a Rail Baltica international passenger station is planned in the western part of the city, next to the existing transport hub, i.e. the bypass. Up to 80 passenger trains per day are planned to run on the railway tracks to this station, carrying up to 4 800 passengers.

“The International passenger station and other new railway infrastructure will bring significant benefits to the entire Panevėžys region and its residents. During the complex planning stage of this Rail Baltica node, one of the most important decisions was to preserve all 23 residential buildings in the territory of the “Šilas” garden community during the construction of the European-gauge Rail Baltica railway line in the vicinity of Panevėžys,” said Mindaugas Tarnauskas, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications of Lithuania.

At the end of October, the Environmental Impact Assessment Report on the construction and operation of the Panevėžys railway node infrastructure was presented to the public. According to the report, the planned economic activity would enable better use of public transport benefits: it would attract more passengers to railways, reducing the use of private cars, emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases, the likelihood of road accidents and the travel time to Panevėžys.

“When planning the infrastructure of the Panevėžys railway node, the first alternative was selected as the most beneficial based on a multi-criteria cost-benefit analysis. Later, the railway line was shifted to preserve residential buildings. During the preparatory phase, we ensured the best accessibility of Panevėžys in the future,” said Justas Vyžintas, “LTG Infra” Head for Rail Baltica Management.

New railway infrastructure – a cargo station, an infrastructure maintenance depot, cargo terminals, cargo and military equipment yards, and a regional passenger station – is also planned near Gustonys.

Support for the first alternative, which foresees an international Rail Baltica station in Panevėžys, has already been expressed earlier by the Panevėžys City Business Council and the Panevėžys Region Industrialists Association. According to them, the Rail Baltica Panevėžys node will create significant added value for the development of the city and the region, and organizations from the public, private, non-governmental and other sectors will experience significant benefits in terms of attracting and retaining employees or new talent in the region.

A total of three Rail Baltica international passenger stations are planned in Lithuania – in Vilnius, Kaunas and Panevėžys.

Only one last special plan for the Kaunas-Vilnius railway line remains to be approved in Lithuania. It is also expected that this plan will soon be submitted to the Government for approval.

 

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