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Agreed
about the possibility to lay
the Rail Baltica railway via Kaunas
The Transit Committee at the government of Lithuania will be
offered for consideration the possibility of laying the European standard railway line
Rail Baltica via Kaunas. Taking into account the significance of Kaunas city and region,
the intermodal terminal and cargo distribution and transhipment centres should be also
built in this city.
Such decision was adopted at the meeting of the Ministry of Transport and Communications
and representatives of Kaunas and Marijampole municipalities. As it is known, the first
stage of building the European standard railway Rail Baltica to be finished by 2010
provides for construction of the railway section from the Polish-Lithuanian border to
Kaunas.
Representatives of the Ministry of Transport and Communications and Kaunas and Marijampole
municipalities discussed various alternatives of this project – the eastern and western
detours bypassing Kaunas. They also considered further steps in preparing for the first
stage of construction of this international railway line in Lithuania.
Taking into account the importance of Kaunas region in assuring better utilisation of
railway infrastructure, it would be expedient to lay this line in the place of the eastern
detour of Kaunas. However, an approval of the main sponsor, the European Commission, is
needed to make final decision.
Rail Baltica should connect Warsaw and Tallinn via Kaunas and Riga. Construction of this
railway line only on the territory of Lithuania would cost over 800 million euro, but
Lithuania would have to cover only 10% of the expenses. The major part of the project
value would be financed from EU funds.
The following stage of construction (Kaunas – Riga) should be completed by 2014, and the
third stage (Riga – Tallinn) – by 2016.
Positive changes forecasted after accession
to the EU
In his report made at the international conference Transport
and Logistics Integrating into the EU held on February 18 in Vilnius, vice-minister of
transport and communications Valerijus Ponomariovas pointed out that integration into the
EU would have a positive influence upon the Lithuanian transport system.
“Lithuania’s membership in the EU will particularly affect road carriers, for many
restrictions presently in force will disappear, for instance, the need for haulers going
to EU countries to obtain permits granted according to bilateral or multilateral
agreements. This change will be most beneficial for carriers engaged in international
transportations. Furthermore, local carriers will also have an opportunity to develop
international activity and enter international market. No permits will be needed to
transport cargo between EU member states”, - says V.Ponomariovas.
Director of the International Relations and EU Affairs Department of the Ministry of
Transport and Communications Rimante Briedyte stated in her report at the conference that
carriers would be able to increase the number of vehicles without limitations (at present
no more than 20% increase per year is allowed). The greatest changes will affect local
carriers. Following the provisions of the EU legal acts, every company must have no less
than 9000 Euro of own capital and reserves per one vehicle used and 5000 EUR for each
extra vehicle. But these EU regulations will be applied to Lithuanian carriers gradually,
with full compliance deadline coming only in 2007.
From the very first day of membership the requirements for transport means, i.e.
construction of vehicles, break systems, electrical installations as well as requirements
concerning packaging of hazardous cargo will become stricter. On the other hand, the new
requirements will ensure higher security in transporting hazardous cargo.
Minister awarded with an order
On February 20 President of Lithuania Rolandas Paksas awarded
minister of transport and communications Zigmantas Balcytis with the Commodore Cross of
the Order of Merit to Lithuania.
This Cross is granted for special attainments in promoting Lithuania, fostering and
development of international relations and for special merits in state service.
“This award was unexpected to me. I am sure it has been granted not personally to me as
the minister, but to the whole staff of the ministry. It is the assessment of the results
of our common work,” - said Z.Balcytis after the awarding ceremony.
Z.Balcytis has managed the sector of Lithuanian transport and communications since July
2001. Last year the sector produced 13.8%. of the national GDP.
Railways to be transferred to a state
enterprise?
The new Railway Transport Code submitted to the government of
Lithuania for consideration suggests founding a state enterprise for management of railway
infrastructure. This state enterprise should ensure maintenance of railway infrastructure,
monitoring of railway traffic, preparing proposals for railway modernization, preparing
and approving schedules of railway traffic, etc. The new enterprise would provide equal
working conditions for all railway companies.
“At present there is only one railway company operating in Lithuania, Lietuvos
Gelezinkeliai, but we believe that in the future more enterprises of this kind will be
founded”, - states Lina Mikalainyte, chief specialist of the Railway Transport
Department of the ministry.
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