After the Lithuanian government’s decision to close the border with Belarus, direct bus services have also been suspended, but some companies are offering to take a 46-hour route through Latvia, Estonia and Russia.
Despite the restrictions, Lithuanians remain keen to travel to Belarus. After the border is closed, direct bus services will not operate until at least December, and the restrictions are likely to be extended.
The Salčininkai border crossing is completely closed, while the Medininkai border crossing is open to people with exceptions, mainly citizens of Lithuania and other EU and NATO countries returning home from Belarus.
When the border closure was announced, some carriers continued to sell tickets for a short time. Gintaras Nakutis, president of the Lithuanian Passenger Transport Association, told LRT that none of the planned trips took place. On the first day, several buses with passengers were already waiting in line, but when it became clear that they would not be able to cross the border, they returned to Vilnius. The passengers have been refunded their money, and further ticket sales have been suspended.
According to Nakutis, some carriers are using alternative routes, including from Poland.
Remigijus Dvareckas, head of the Lithuanian-Polish region of Ecolines, confirmed that there has been an increase in the number of passengers on flights to Warsaw, from where they continue on to Minsk. Dvareckas did not specify how many passengers are using this option. The Lithuanian Border Guard previously explained to LRT that around 10,000 Lithuanians travel to Belarus every month, or an average of 300 people per day.
The Ecolines website provides information on a possible route to Minsk. Passengers first travel to Riga, from Riga via Estonia to Pskov, and then from Pskov to Minsk. The journey takes 46 hours in total and costs 106 euros.
Ingmar Roos, CEO of passenger carrier Lux Express, said that although the number of passengers has increased slightly, it is too early to attribute the trend to border closures or airport disruptions. He added that the increase may also be due to holidays and school holidays, and generally higher activity in late October and early November. Interest in trips from Vilnius to Riga and from Vilnius to Warsaw has increased slightly.
The Lithuanian-Belarusian border was closed in response to disruptions at airports caused by balloons launched by cigarette smugglers.
Read the whole article in English here: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2731128/with-border-closed-travellers-seek-detours-to-belarus
Read also: Lithuania closes border with Belarus; crossings will only be allowed in exceptional cases