Rail Baltica, a major infrastructure project in the Baltic region, has reached a major milestone with the announcement of tenders for the construction of nearly 53 kilometers of its main railway line in Estonia. Rail Baltic Estonia, the national implementing body, has declared the start of this construction work, scheduled for spring 2024, as a crucial step in the development of the high-speed rail network.
This development is part of a wider plan to construct 74 kilometers of Rail Baltica's Estonian route within a year, representing more than a third of the total length of the Estonian main line. In Harju County, the railway will run from the Ülemiste terminal to the county border, laying the foundations for improved connectivity in the region.
Anvar Salomets, the Chief Executive Officer of Rail Baltic Estonia, emphasized the significance of the Rail Baltica mainline construction as a priority for the upcoming years. "One year from now, we aim to see active railway infrastructure construction on more than a third of the Estonian part of the future high-speed railway. This will allow us to stay on schedule to commence rail traffic in 2030,” Salomets stated.
Salomets also noted that the recently announced tenders are likely to be the last to be handled as short segments, signalling a shift in tender strategy for the remaining railway infrastructure and superstructure. With an estimated total cost of around €400 million, these tenders represent a significant investment in Estonia's railway infrastructure. The construction contracts for these sections vary in length, ranging from 40 to 48 months depending on the section.
