Rail Baltica Coordinator: Latvia Cannot Unilaterally Change Technical Parameters
Latvia's government has set a cost ceiling for Rail Baltica track construction at up to 20 million euros per kilometer, but the project's coordinator says technical parameters cannot be changed unilaterally. Adhering to the ceiling could save at least eight million euros per kilometer.
The Latvian government has approved a cost ceiling for the Rail Baltica railway project, setting the maximum price at 20 million euros per kilometer of track. This amount covers rails, electrification, and signaling systems, but excludes major structures such as bridges and overpasses.
According to available information, adhering to the set ceiling could yield savings of at least eight million euros per kilometer compared to previously planned costs.
Question of Technical Parameters
The international coordinator of the Rail Baltica project has emphasized that Latvia cannot unilaterally alter the railway's technical parameters, since this is an international project involving multiple Baltic states and implemented according to jointly agreed standards.
Rail Baltica is a joint infrastructure project of the Baltic states aimed at building a European standard-gauge railway line connecting Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania with the rest of Europe. The project's costs have sparked extensive debate in recent years, and the countries are seeking ways to reduce overall expenses while maintaining the technical and safety standards set for the project.
