A Spanish consortium of Elecnor and Vinci subsidiary Cobra will electrify 870km of railway for Rail Baltica across Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia in what’s billed as Europe’s largest rail electrification project.
Worth an estimated €1.7bn, the team will connect the Baltic railway system to the wider European rail network.
The process will use static frequency converter technology for the first time at this scale, which will be used in conjunction with a 2x25kV in a 50 Hz system, powered by 10 traction substations.
Eugenijus Sabutis, Lithuania’s acting minister of transport and communications, said: “Rail Baltica is more than just infrastructure – it is an economic and security link to the west.
“This contract is particularly important for our integration into the European railway network, enabling smooth passenger and freight transport while strengthening the resilience of the Baltic region.”
Kuldar Leis, Estonia’s infrastructure minister, said: “Electrification will make Rail Baltica a truly functional and sustainable transport solution. Today’s contract confirms that the Baltic states can jointly implement such large-scale and complex projects.”
In November 2024, it was estimated that Rail Baltica’s price will rise €19bn to €25bn, more than four times the 2017 estimate of €5.8bn.
Construction of the main line will take place in stages, with work beginning in 2026 and finishing in 2030.
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