Baltic States – CIS, EU – Baltic States, Railways, Transport

Unlike the current network of railroads, Rail Baltica will connect EU Eastern regions with the Western countries.

People sometimes inquire why such a railroad is necessary, and if it would not be better to build interconnections with neighbors to the East. They fail to realize that 500 million people live in the EU, and that Europe's economy is growing. It would be very shortsighted not to build the Rail Baltica railroad connecting the EU's Eastern and Western parts, said Kallas.

The commissioner added he hoped that implementing the project would not take too long.

As reported, the Rail Baltica project deals with construction of a new 1435 millimeter standard-gauge railroad in the Baltic countries. The implementation of project could cost EUR 1.27 billion (LVL 880 million) to Latvia and EUR 3.68 billion (LVL 2.56 billion) to the Baltic States altogether. The European Commission could co-fund 85% of the project's costs. The request for funding will be submitted to the European Commission in 2015, so construction of the railroad could begin in 2016. Further funding for the project is to be provided as part of the next financial period that will begin in 2020.