EU – Baltic States, Latvia, Legislation, Lithuania, Railways, Transport

"I don't know the latest intentions, but I think it wasn't on our schedule," Maris Ozols, a spokesman for the Latvian state railway company, told BNS.

"Latvian Railways' priority is to restore this line. We hope that the Lithuanian part will hold on its promise to do it as soon as possible - that is our main priority, not the lawsuits," Ozols said.

"Lithuanian Railways has been declaring (its intention) to restore the line for many years. We just hope that it will hold its promise and do what the European Commission told the Lithuanian part to do," he added.

The spokesman said that the Latvian part of the cross-border line was in operation.

"If Lithuanian side decides to restore, the line is absolutely usable, ready for use," he said.

Lietuvos Gelezinkeliai CEO Mantas Bartuska has told BNS that the line to Renge could be rebuilt in 2019 and that this would cost less than the earlier estimated 20 million euros. He expects that the government's decision to rebuild the track will improve cooperation with the Latvians.

The European Commission on Oct. 2 imposed a fine of almost 28 million euros on Lietuvos Gelezinkeliai for hindering competition in the rail freight market by dismantling in 2008 the track connecting the Mazeikiai crude refinery, in northern Lithuania, and Renge in Latvia.

The Lithuanian state railway company plans to file an appeal with a EU court against the fine by December 18.