Rail Baltic launches landmark study to supercharge its intl stations

TALLINN - Rail Baltic joint venture RB Rail AS has signed a 194,250-euro contract with an international consortium to deliver recommendations to Rail Baltic, one of Europe's flagship cross-border megaprojects, on how to promote long-term value creation in and in particular -- around its seven international railway stations.

The consortium is led by international engineering and management consultancy company Ramboll and consists of Gottlieb Paludan Architects, Soini&Horto Architects, Realidea Ltd. and Ardenis Consult. Final report is expected at the end of 2021, RB Rail said.

The study, supported by engagements with relevant key stakeholders, aims to generate a comprehensive set of recommendations on how to develop the seven Rail Baltic international stations -- Tallinn Ulemiste, Parnu, Riga Central, Riga International Airport, Panevezys, Kaunas and Vilnius  -- transforming multimodal connectivity and serving as important development engines in their immediate urban environments and beyond.

The study will build on international best practice benchmarking of some of the most successful European and global multimodal transport hubs to understand the key factors which drive the creation of socio-economic value across all key dimensions -- spatial, functional, commercial, operational and governance -- both inside the stations and in their immediate urban environments, as well as the wider mobility-oriented development ecosystem.

The study shall also consider and analyze any existing development plans and initiatives, both public and private, in and around the station areas.

To mobilize all relevant stakeholders, the study will engage and gather input from numerous parties, including municipalities, public transport operators, traffic authorities, non-governmental and community organizations, and private commercial and real estate developers.

"This study will identify opportunities, but the implementation will very much depend on the stakeholders and relevant parties and not only on Rail Baltic implementers. We encourage all relevant stakeholders to actively contribute to developing world-class recommendations and, subsequently, ensuring their coordinated implementation," Agnis Driksna, CEO of RB Rail AS, said in a press release.