In Latvia, a single-track solution on a double-track embankment base track in the first round of the Rail Baltica railway project would help save EUR 1.169 billion, as representatives of the Ministry of Transport told LETA based on estimates from the joint company of Baltic States “RB Rail”.
The ministry reported that the project’s implementers in all three Baltic States have agreed to build a two-track embankment with a monorail in the first round of the Rail Baltica project, but all related infrastructure, embankment, traffic transmissions and bridges are planned in full – with the possibility to build two tracks in the next rounds of the project, thus ensuring the full initially planned infrastructure capacity.
The ministry also mentioned the decision to build a single-lane rail track instead of a two-lane track would help reduce initial investments. Construction of the second track, however, would become more expensive in the future.
The ministry adds that no country participating in the project cannot make such a decision individually, without consulting with neighbours, as it would impact the infrastructure capacity of the entire track, train movement, speed, as well as other aspects.
The ministry also added that the construction of the railway line’s basic track infrastructure for about 230 kilometres provides for a number of construction tasks – the construction of railway track substructures and superstructures, including land preparation, embankment, railway bridges, roads, road underground passage, the construction of transmissions, the relocation of engineering networks, as well as in the final stage the installation of rails and ballast.
Thus construction workers are able to continue working until they have to lay down the actual rails. According to the plan, it is necessary to build a two-track embankment, for the creation of which all the necessary preliminary work has been carried out, including the alienation of land, explained the ministry.
Commenting on what would be the savings if a monorail track was built on a monorail embankment, the ministry indicated that the amount of savings is still being specified, but the difference between a two-lane and single-lane embankment is not so significant.
On the single-lane sections, the embankment width on the upper surface is on average 7.6 metres (3.8 metres on both from the centre). At the same time, the 0.8-metre extension is intended for the placement of cables, providing the necessary communication means, power supply and other infrastructure placement. The width of the embankment in the upper surface increases to about 12 metres in two-track and multi-track sections, station areas and other areas, respectively, according to the ministry.
The ministry’s report mentions the total cost of implementing the first stage of the cross-border connection, taking into account that a single-lane track would be built on the two-track embankment, from the Estonian border to the Lithuanian border, using only the freight bypass through Salaspils, is EUR 4.5 billion.
These estimates are based on the initial technical study and the technical solutions it offers. By actively cooperating with all parties involved, including during the preparation of the construction project, it will be possible to change and simplify the technical solutions, which could significantly reduce the amount of investment required.
As previously reported, on the 10th of December, the Latvian government agreed on the scenario for the implementation of the first stage of Rail Baltica project.
Priority tasks for Rail Baltica in the first round will be to establish the Rail Baltica cross-border connection from Lithuania to the Estonian border sequentially and according to the attraction of funding, as well as the completion of construction works at Rail Baltica passenger station at Riga Airport and the southern part of Riga Central Railway Station in the minimum scope to ensure their functionality in the existing railway infrastructure, as well as in Salaspils (Daugavkrasti), providing a connection between Rail Baltica and the existing 1 520 mm railway network.
The Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Economics have until the 1st of November 2025 to submit to the Cabinet of Ministers a report and options for attraction of private investments for Riga connection with Rail Baltica track by constructing a European gauge (1 435 mm) railway infrastructure to one of the two international stations – whether from Upesleja to Riga Central Station or from Misa to Riga Airport.
The government has also ordered the three ministries to establish and submit the project’s maximum price cap by July 2025, as well as continue working on proposals for attraction of additional finances to ensure uninterrupted financing of the project in 2026-2028.
According to the latest information from RB Rail, the costs of the first round of Rail Baltica in the Baltic States could reach EUR 14.3 billion, of which in Latvia – EUR 5.5 billion, however, potential savings of up to EUR 400 million from the optimization of technical solutions are possible, as well as other savings are possible.