From Lithuanian-Belarusian state border to Klaipėda by electric train – in 2022 already

Using the investment of the European Union funds, Lithuania plans to electrify the entire railway line crossing the territory of the country in the East-West direction, from the Lithuanian-Belarusian state border to Klaipėda, until 2022. The list of state projects financed from the EU funds, in which projects dedicated to this purpose are planned, has been supplemented at the order of the Minister of Transport and Communications Rokas Masiulis. The total value of electrification projects is EUR 349.1 million, of which EUR 224.1 million is the planned investment from the EU Cohesion Fund, and the remaining funds will be allocated by JSC Lithuanian Railways.

The first stage of electrification encompassing the section of 28.6 km from Kena on the border of Belarus to Naujoji Vilnia has already been completed: the work was carried out in 2015–2017.

As the electrification of the railway is continued in Klaipėda direction, the design of the remaining sections will be started this year, and the electrification work will proceed in 2019–2022.

It is planned to electrify Vilnius railway junction – 34 km of Vilnius bypass – by connecting it to the already electrified Vilnius–Kaunas section. This section will be adapted for the train traffic at the speed of 160 km/h.

It is also planned to electrify Kaišiadorys–Radviliškis section of 125 km and Radviliškis–Klaipėda section of 196 km. In these sections, an electrical contact network, new traction substations will be installed, railway station control systems will be replaced, and the control safety level will be increased. The contact network will be adapted for train speeds up to 250 km/h.

The electrified railway section from the Lithuanian and Belarusian border to Klaipėda belongs to the international IXB transport corridor. According to the data of JSC Lithuanian Railways, the transport on this route accounts for about three quarters of the rail freight turnover and two thirds of the passenger traffic. It is anticipated that the performed electrification work will increase the efficiency of activity even more. Electrification is also important from the environmental point of view – electric trains will run quieter and will not pollute the environment.

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