Stage I of Rail Baltica Construction in Lithuania Completed
AB Kauno Tiltai, a Lithuanian company of Trakcja Group, has completed the first stage of construction of the Rail Baltica railway line.
Rail Baltica is the largest rail transport infrastructure project in the Baltic States region. Stage I, covering one third of the works planned in Lithuania, cost EUR 109.3 million and was completed in just two years instead of the three originally planned at the initial stage of the investment. The scope of works included, among other things, laying 34.5 km of new track to the European gauge of 1,435 mm and 36 km of track with a gauge of 1,520 mm. The Mariampol and Kalvarija railway stations were also modernised, as was the railway line on the Mariampol–Szestokai section. In addition, 32 culverts, over 5 km of noise barriers, 10 level crossings, 8 bridges and viaducts and a pedestrian underpass at the Mariampol railway station were built. In the first phase of works, the electricity and gas systems and the storm sewer and drainage networks were also modernised: a new railway signalling system and automated electric heating of railway turnouts were installed. The scope of earthworks related to preparing and laying the track bed exceeded half a million cubic metres. At the same time, 158 km of cables were laid for the power supply system, railway communications and signalling. On average, 300 workers were on the site every day and 200 different machines and devices were in use. Construction work was carried out without interrupting rail traffic. AB Kauno Tiltai’s partner in the consortium of contractors responsible for this investment was the company Mitnija.
