Rail Baltica: CEF Funds Boost Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania Rail Infrastructure

Introduction

CINEA and RB Rail signed a EUR 295.5 million grant agreement through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for the Rail Baltica project, which will be implemented across Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

Main Content

Funding Allocation

Of the total EUR 295.5 million grant, approximately EUR 47.1 million is allocated to Estonia, EUR 153.5 million to Latvia, and EUR 94.9 million to Lithuania, including the share allocated to RB Rail as the joint project coordinator.

Estonian Projects

In Estonia, the funding will support the construction of the mainline from Tallinn to the Estonia/Latvia border, including 10.2 km of embankment and double-track substructure in the Rapla–Pärnu section.

Latvian Projects

Rail Baltica construction in Latvia will include the construction of the railway embankment in four southern sections of the main line, with a total length of 13.3 km. The works will include the construction of access and maintenance roads, installation of water drainage systems, construction of engineering communications, and other necessary works. Construction supervision and control will also be carried out. Additionally, work will be done on the technical design of the Rail Baltica electrification project in the section Upeslejas – Latvia/Lithuania border (Phase I) and on project implementation support measures, including FIDIC engineer services and construction project expertise.

Lithuanian Projects

In Lithuania, the grant will support key structures such as overpasses and railway crossings in the Kaunas Urban Node section. The grant also covers technical studies and design work, including regional station infrastructure, technical design for sections from Kaunas to the Lithuanian/Polish border, and executive design services. Land acquisition and related procedures will be carried out in the Kaunas area.

Project Coordination

RB Rail AS has been granted financing to continue overseeing cross-border project coordination and the remaining works in line with the Project Management Agreement.

Conclusion

The funding agreement, which was discussed at a high-level meeting in Vilnius on 21–22 October, will enable the advancement of key sections of the Rail Baltica mainline construction across the three Baltic countries.

Company Summary

CINEA: The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) provides financial aid to support transport, energy and digital projects.

RB Rail: Joint venture of the Rail Baltica project, responsible for the implementation of the project.