“Even now, many people choose trains when going from Vilnius to Kaunas and vice versa. This method of traveling is faster and much more convenient. In addition to other advantages, trains allow you to avoid traffic jams and forget parking troubles. After the Rail Baltic project is completed and European standard gauge tracks are installed between Kaunas and Vilnius, commuting will be twice as fast. We have no doubt that the number of passengers traveling by train will greatly increase,” said Karolis Sankovski, General Manager of LTG Infra AB.
Presently, the passenger trains going from Vilnius to Kaunas can reach the speed of up to 140 km/h. According to the Rail Baltica specifications, passenger trains will be able to develop a 249 km/h speed.
LTG Infra specialists cannot yet say the exact duration of the trip as the location and route of the European standard gauge tracks had not been decided upon so far. The trip is estimated to last up to 35 minutes after the completion of the Rail Baltica project.
“At the development stage, four alternatives for the location of the railroad between Kaunas and Vilnius exist. The specialists are working hard on the solutions for these alternatives so that we can choose the project we will focus on next year. Then, we will be able to tell you a more accurate trip duration,” said K. Sankovski.
The exact location and route of the Rail Baltica railroad between Vilnius and Kaunas should be clear sometime in February 2021.
One of the Rail Baltica alternatives connects Vievis, Lentvaris and Kaišiadorys. Specialists are also looking into the possibility to connect the railway to the location of the new airport planned to be constructed near Žąsliai.
The estimated duration of the trip from Vilnius to Tallinn will be 3 h 38 min, to Riga – 1 h 54 min, to Riga Airport – 1 h 44 min, to Panevėžys – 57 min, and to Kaunas – 38 min.
Traveling from Kaunas to Tallinn will take 3 h 18 min, to Riga – 1 h 34 min, to Riga Airport – 1 h 24 min and to Panevėžys – 37 min.
Traveling from Warsaw to Vilnius will take 4 h 7 min and to Kaunas – 3 h 27 min.
At the moment, passenger trains are scheduled to go four times per day in all directions; however, more routes may be added later if needed.
The Rail Baltica railroad is planned to be completed by the end of 2026. Rail Baltica is the largest railway infrastructure project in the history of the Baltic States. During the project, an electrified European standard dual gauge railway connecting Warsaw, Kaunas, Vilnius, Panevėžys, Riga, Pärnu and Tallinn will be built.
The total length of the Rail Baltica railroad in the Baltic States is 870 km, i.e. 392 km in Lithuania, 265 km in Latvia and 213 km in Estonia.
In Lithuania, the European standard gauge railway will go from the border of Poland and Lithuania to the border of Lithuania and Latvia. Passenger trains will make a stop at Kaunas Train Station in Kaunas while cargo trains will pass Rokai and go directly towards Riga and Tallinn through Palemonas. The Rail Baltica project also has plans for the Kaunas-Vilnius railway.
The project value is approx. 5.8 billion euros. This is the largest investment project intended to improve mobility and traveling routes and to develop business, tourism and trading in the region.
Translated by MP Translations Agency in Kaunas.
