A passenger train between Vilnius and Riga will start running early next year, Lithuanian Transport and Communications Minister Marius Skuodis has said.
It remains unclear whether the train would go via Siauliai in northern Lithuania or Daugavpils in Latvia.
“Lithuania’s northern municipalities are showing great interest and willingness to have a passenger train running between Vilnius to Riga via Siauliai and parallel discussions are underway on the resumption of train services to Daugavpils. I believe we will find the best solution with my counterpart,” Skuodis said, adding that the necessary agreements between Lithuanian and Latvian companies would be concluded soon.
The Baltic transport ministers agreed in Riga on October 20 to speed up the implementation of the Rail Baltica, the ministry said.
The entire Rail Baltica project connecting the Baltic countries to Europe is scheduled to be completed until 2030, while the connection between Lithuania and Poland is expected to be completed until 2028. (LRT/Business World Magazine)