In order for Lithuania to more actively implement the goals of the European Green Course, an agreement on the financing of electrification of the Kaišiadorys-Klaipėda section of the main railway artery has been signed.
By the end of 2023, the share of electrified railway in Lithuania in the entire infrastructure should reach about 35%, and the continuous length of the section should reach 731 km.
Financing agreement signed by the Ministry of Transport and Communications, LTG Infra and the Central Project Management Agency for the electrification of the section Kaišiadorys – Klaipėda (Draugystės st.). The European Union's Cohesion Fund will provide over € 158 million for this section. The remaining investment amount is EUR 150 million. EUR - will be provided by the project implementer LTG Infra.
“The electrification of the entire main railway line of the country Vilnius – Klaipėda and its part from Kaišiadorys to Klaipėda is to be welcomed, Europe is rapidly advancing the path of electrification of railway lines.
"This will make it possible to move from fossil fuels to the use of renewable energy sources in the rail transport sector and to achieve the goals of the Green Course.
"Rail transport will not only become more competitive and greener, but also more attractive for both passengers and freight, ”says Loreta Maskaliovienė, Deputy Minister of Transport.
In Lithuania, the railway is one of the least electrified in Europe - electrified railway makes up only 9 percent. nationwide network. Upon completion of the project, 35 percent will be electrified. About 40% of Lithuanian railways will be electrified in Lithuania after the completion of the Rail Baltica project. railway. The average number of electrified railways in the EU is 54.3%.
According to Karolis Sankovskis, General Director of LTG Infra, railway transport is already 9 times less polluting than alternatives - road or air transport, and after electrifying the network, there will be practically no pollution.
"The electrification project is one of the priorities of the European Union, which is pushing the direction of the green course to transport more cargo by rail. The economic benefits of greater competitiveness of the railway business, reduced costs and electrification of pollution are estimated at as much as € 1 billion. "says Sankovski.
Currently, three railway sections are electrified in Lithuania - Vilnius – Kaunas, Lentvaris – Trakai and Vilnius – Kena – State border with Belarus.
Until the end of 2023, in order to electrify the main and busiest railway line of the country Vilnius – Klaipėda, the works are divided into three stages. The works of the first stage will take place at the Vilnius railway junction, electrifying 114 km of railway tracks. In the second stage, the Kaišiadorys-Radviliškis section will be electrified, for a total of 261 km of railways. In the third stage, the Radviliškis-Klaipėda section will be electrified, electrifying 356 km of railways.
The total value of electrification of the Vilnius-Klaipėda railway line amounts to LTL 397.5 million. EUR (excluding VAT). The project contractor is a consortium of the Spanish companies Elecnor S.A. and Instalaciones Inabensa. ■
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