Rail Baltica project will not be fully operational in any Baltic State by the year 2030, said RB Rail deputy board chairperson Kitija Gruškevica in an interview to TV3 programme 900 seconds.
“I truly believe a portion of this project could be implemented [before 2030], but the railway line will not be fully operational in Lithuania, Latvia, or Estonia by the year 2030. But we are nonetheless working towards functionally connecting Baltic States by this deadline,” she said.
When asked if by failing to implement the project by this deadline, the European Union may impose sanctions, RB Rail representatives said the risk is losing financing. “The biggest penalty will fall if we fail completely. We risk losing financing and what has been invested so far – we would have to pay it back,” said Gruškevica.
She also said that Rail Baltica has three priorities – connecting Baltic States via railway, ensuring a NATO military mobility corridor as soon as possible, as well as ensure benefits for specifically for Latvia. “It is clear this project has to be used for Latvia’s benefit. This means connecting Riga, the airport, and it is equally important to regional stations as well,” said Gruškevica.
LETA previously reported that according to the latest Rail Baltica cost-benefit analysis, the total cost of the railway line in the Baltics can reach EUR 23.8 billion, including the costs of the first phase of the project in the Baltics could amount to EUR 15.3 billion, of which in Latvia – EUR 6.4 billion. In a previous cost-benefit analysis in 2017, it was estimated that the project would cost a total of EUR 5.8 billion.
At the same time, in its report for Rail Baltica project in Latvia and its progress, the State Audit stated the construction costs of the railway line in Latvia alone reach EUR 8.7 billion.