The Latvian Ministry of Transport has published a report indicating that the country may not complete the Rail Baltica connection to Estonia before 2030.
The Ministry of Transport has submitted a plan for coordination, identifying the establishment of a connection with Estonia as the first phase of Rail Baltica development.
While the ministry is prioritizing the connection with Estonia, there is currently no guarantee that tracks heading to Estonia can actually be built, Latvian Minister of Transport Kaspars Briskens acknowledges.
According to Briskens, both Estonia and Latvia must work hard to secure as much funding as possible for the Rail Baltica project under the next seven-year EU financing plan, as this will determine the pace of the railway’s construction.
Briskens emphasized that creating the connection was a priority for both countries.
When asked about the likelihood of the plan not coming to fruition, Briskens replied: “We should probably ask our diplomats or the Ministry of Finance about our expectations for these EU budget negotiations.”
Latvia has been seeking a way to make Riga accessible by European gauge rail since June, though a solution has yet to be found. (ERR)