RAIL BALTICA | Elron, Vivi, and LTG Link launch joint tender for regional trains

August 2025. We’re travelling to the Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and more specifically their respective capitals Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius. Are they interconnected by rail? Yes, but not in the most straightforward or userfriendly way possible. The Rail Baltica project should remedy this. Unsurprisingly though, this megaproject faces political and budgetary hurdles. It will most likely not be ready by 2030. But that doesn’t stop us. What to expect from the Baltics? Is it affected by  overtourism? 

The three Baltic passenger rail operators – Elron, Vivi and LTG Link – have jointly launched a procurement for up to 20 regional trains to operate on the future Rail Baltica network.

The tender, published on 18 March 2026, covers electric multiple units (EMUs) capable of speeds of up to 200 km/h and marks a significant step towards preparing passenger services on the new European standard-gauge railway linking the Baltic States.

Estonia is expected to lead the initial order, with five trains planned and an option for two additional units. Latvia and Lithuania have not yet committed to firm orders but retain options to acquire up to five and eight trains respectively. Bids for the contract must be submitted by 4 May 2026.

Latvia has indicated it may defer its purchasing decision, retaining the right to order trains within three years after the first units enter service in Estonia.

Modern trains for a unified network

The planned fleet will be designed to ensure interoperability across the Baltic network, with each train accommodating at least 200 passengers. Interiors will include both standard (2+2 seating) and business class (1+2 seating), alongside family and quiet areas.

Passenger amenities are set to include onboard catering facilities, charging points at every seat, bicycle and wheelchair spaces, and multiple toilets. Train length will be up to 106 metres.

According to Marko Kivila, chief executive of Rail Baltica’s joint venture RB Rail, the procurement is essential to keep the project on schedule. He stressed that both rolling stock and infrastructure must be delivered in parallel.

Leaders of the three operators highlighted the benefits of joint procurement, pointing to improved compatibility, higher service quality and a stronger shift towards sustainable transport across the region.

Strategic investment in regional connectivity

The launch event brought together transport ministers from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, underlining the political importance of the project.

Estonian Infrastructure Minister Kuldar Leis described Rail Baltica as a project of strategic importance, strengthening regional cohesion and economic prospects. Latvian Transport Representative Kristaps Zaļais emphasised its role in boosting connectivity and competitiveness, while Lithuanian Minister Juras Taminskas pointed to ongoing construction of standard-gauge infrastructure in Lithuania.

Once operational, the new trains are expected to provide a faster, more efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to road transport, supporting closer integration of the Baltic States into the wider European rail network.

New train = nice train?

“Fingers crossed they order trains with appropriate doors and interiors”, independent #CrossBorderRail railway commentator Jon Worth reacts. He wrote a blog post on how new trains aren’t per definition better than older trains.

Rail Baltica?

Rail Baltica is one of Europe’s most ambitious railway infrastructure projects, designed to connect the Baltic States with the wider European rail network through a புதிய standard-gauge line. The project will link Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius (via Kaunas) with Warsaw in Poland, forming a continuous north–south corridor along the European Union’s Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).

The new railway, approximately 870 kilometres in length, is being built for both passenger and freight services. Passenger trains are planned to reach speeds of over 230 km/h, significantly reducing travel times across the region. A key objective is to replace the historical reliance on the broader Russian gauge with the European standard gauge (1,435 mm), thereby removing a major technical barrier and integrating the Baltic railways more closely with the rest of the European Union.

The route will run from Tallinn through Pärnu, Riga and Panevėžys to Kaunas, with connections to Vilnius and Riga Airport. In the longer term, the corridor could be extended via a fixed link between Tallinn and Helsinki in Finland, further strengthening connections between northern and central Europe.

In recent years, the project has moved from planning into full-scale construction. Works are now underway across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, including major stations, bridges and sections of mainline track. By the end of 2025, around 43% of the main line is expected to be construction-ready or actively under development, indicating tangible progress on the ground.

However, Rail Baltica has also faced significant challenges. Costs have risen sharply, from an estimated €5.8 billion in 2017 to around €23.8 billion by 2024, creating funding gaps and increasing pressure on national budgets and EU support.

Delays have become a central concern. While the initial phases were once expected to be completed by the mid-2020s, the timeline has already been pushed back to 2030 for a first operational single-track line. Even this target is now widely considered optimistic. The European Court of Auditors has warned that the project is unlikely to be completed by 2030 and that no clear final completion date can currently be guaranteed.

National officials have echoed these concerns, suggesting that parts of the project could be delayed by several years, while some estimates now place full completion closer to 2040.

The delays are attributed to a combination of factors, including rising construction costs, complex technical requirements, funding uncertainties and shifting political priorities, particularly in the context of increased defence spending in the region.

Despite these difficulties, Rail Baltica remains a project of major strategic importance. It is intended not only to improve passenger mobility and freight efficiency, but also to strengthen economic integration, reduce reliance on road transport, and enhance the geopolitical connectivity of the Baltic States with the rest of Europe.

Baltic States 2025

1. REVIEW | The Loft by Brussels Airlines and Lexus business lounge at Brussels Airport A-Gates.
2. REVIEW | Brussels Airlines Business Class Brussels to Munich.
3. REVIEW | Lufthansa Business Lounge Schengen and Lufthansa Senator Business Lounge Satellite Schengen at Munich Airport Terminal 2.
4. REVIEW | Air Baltic Business Class Munich to Tallinn.
5. REVIEW | Swissotel Tallinn.
6. TALLINN | Lennusadam Seaplane Harbour Estonian Maritime Museum.
7. TALLINN | Estonian History Museum at the Great Guild Hall.
8. TALLINN | LGBT tour at Vabamu Museum of Occupations and Freedom.

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