Rail Baltica, one of Europe’s most significant cross-border infrastructure initiatives, will take center stage at a high-level seminar in Helsinki focused on strategic mobility for a stronger Nordic–Baltic region. The event will highlight Rail Baltica’s role not only in boosting sustainable transport and connectivity but also in strengthening regional defence readiness, military mobility, and economic resilience.
The seminar, titled “Rail Baltica and strategic mobility for a stronger Nordic–Baltic region,” is organized by Rail Baltica in cooperation with the Embassies of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in Finland, and with the support of the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK). Senior officials, policymakers, business leaders, and security experts will gather to discuss how the project reinforces the strategic infrastructure of Northern Europe.
Keynote addresses will be delivered by Ms Lulu Ranne, Minister of Transport and Communications of Finland, and Mr Kuldar Leis, Minister of Infrastructure of Estonia. The event will also feature contributions from the Baltic Ambassadors to Finland, highlighting the shared regional vision for secure and sustainable connectivity.
A major focus of the program will be the panel discussion “Rail Baltica and military mobility – dual-use infrastructure for security and growth,” moderated by Dr Marcin Zaborowski, Distinguished Fellow at GLOBSEC. The discussion will bring together leading experts including Mr Mikko Hautala, Chief Geopolitical and Government Relations Officer at Nokia and former Ambassador of Finland to Russia and the USA, Lieutenant General Arto Räty, Senior Advisor at Nordic West Office and former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of Finland and Chairman of the National Security Committee, Mr Antti Rauhala, Program Director at the Nordic Economic Security Program, Mr Petteri Portaankorva, CEO of East Railway, and Mr Marko Kivila, CEO and Chairman of the Management Board of RB Rail AS.
The panel will explore Rail Baltica’s role as the backbone of regional military mobility, its dual-use capabilities, and the ways in which resilient infrastructure underpins both defence readiness and economic growth. Participants will also address the importance of EU and NATO alignment, resilience against hybrid threats, and the opportunities for deeper Nordic–Baltic cooperation.
“Rail Baltica is not just a transport project – it is an investment in Europe’s security, sustainability, and long-term resilience,” said Marko Kivila, CEO and Chairman of the Management Board at RB Rail AS. “By building interoperable, high-capacity infrastructure, we are enhancing the strategic mobility that strengthens both our economies and our collective defence capabilities.”
In addition to the security-focused sessions, the seminar will include updates from the Rail Baltica joint venture RB Rail AS and the national implementing bodies – Rail Baltic Estonia, Eiropas Dzelzceļa līnijas (Latvia), and LTG Infra (Lithuania) – showcasing the latest project progress and future milestones.
Rail Baltica progress today
Rail Baltica has entered full-scale construction across Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, with mainline works, international stations, bridges, and crossings advancing.
In Estonia, construction is underway on 105 km of substructure and related infrastructure, including overpasses, crossings, and traffic junctions. Contracts have been signed for 200 km of substructure and superstructure construction. More than 100 km of railway substructure is currently being built, including works at the flagship Ülemiste Terminal.
In Latvia, Rail Baltica’s mainline construction is advancing with priority given to the southern section near Iecava - a key stretch connecting Riga to the Lithuanian border. This area marks one of the most active construction zones, where large-scale earthworks, road crossings, and engineering structures are taking shape as part of the 202 km of Rail Baltica infrastructure being built across the country.
In Lithuania, construction is progressing on the Kaunas–Panevėžys section, where 77 km of embankments and engineering structures are currently under development. By the end of 2025, works are expected to extend over 114 km, including track laying and the construction of a new bridge over the Neris River, which will be the longest in the country.
By the end of 2025, 43% of the Rail Baltica mainline will be construction-ready, marking a decisive leap toward Europe’s most ambitious cross-border rail project.
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