The Biggest Railway Electrification Contract in Europe is Signed

On 15 September in Vilnius, Rail Baltica and the COBELEC Consortium (Gruppo Cobra & Grupo Elecnor) signed the largest ever railway electrification contract in Europe. This agreement is a milestone in developing infrastructure in the Baltic Region and integrating it into the European Railway System’s TEN-T network.

The ceremony was attended by institutional representatives from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, along with the members of Rail Baltica’s Project Management Consultants (PMC) consortium, made up of Italferr, DB Engineering & Consulting, and IDOM.

The project involves electrification of 870 km of railway lines and more than 2,400 km of tracks, using 2x25 kV technology and Static Frequency Converters, powered via 10 traction sub-stations. This priority infrastructure aims to connect the Baltic Countries - Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, and indirectly Finland as well - to the European Railway Network by 2030, with significant impacts in terms of sustainability, energy efficiency, and interoperability. 

Italferr’s task will be to supervise and coordinate completion of the signalling systems and energy sub-systems, as well as Direction of Works for creating the new High-Speed Line in Latvia, comprising 230 km of dual track.

Overall, the contract is worth Euro 1,7 billion. The line will run from Warsaw to Tallinn, where a future link is planned under the sea, to reach Helsinki. 

Rail Baltica is proving to be one of Europe’s most ambitious cross-border railway projects, destined to radically transform mobility in the region. Launching the electrification works marks the dawn of a new operating phase for a high-speed railway main line that is efficient and integrated into the heart of Europe.

The benefits envisaged include an economic and employment impact with the creation of about 13,000 jobs during the construction phase. The project will add to growth in the region’s GDP of 0,5-0,7% per annum, stimulating urban development, tourism and new business opportunities. A 30-40% reduction in heavy road traffic is also estimated, producing a saving of Euro 7,1 billion.