Rail Baltica electrification subsystem design and construction contract has been signed on 15 September 2025, in a ceremony held in Vilnius, Lithuania. The event was attended by the management teams of the Rail Baltica delivery organisations, representatives from the three Baltic States’ ministries, industry partners, and the joint venture formed by Cobra and Elecnor, “COBELEC Rail Baltica”.
The EUR 1.77 billion contract has been signed with COBELEC Rail Baltica – a consortium formed by the Spanish companies Cobra Instalaciones y Servicios and Elecnor Servicios y Proyectos. It covers the full deployment of the Rail Baltica Energy subsystem. The first phase, with a budget of EUR 949 million (excluding VAT), is scheduled for completion by 2030.
The signing of the Rail Baltica electrification contract “underscores the joint commitment of all project partners to build a unified and interoperable railway line across national border,” said Catherine Trautmann, the European Coordinator for the North Sea-Baltic TEN-T Corridor.
Rail Baltica will electrify 870 km of railway and 2,403 km of tracks across Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, making it the largest railway electrification project in Europe and one of the largest worldwide. It will also pioneer the large-scale use of Static Frequency Converter (SFC) technology combined with 2x25kV in a 50 Hz system, powered by ten traction substations. This approach will ensure long-term reliability, efficiency, and strong environmental performance.
“Electrification is not only about powering trains – it is about enabling sustainable mobility, ensuring interoperability with the European network, and securing long-term energy efficiency for the entire region,” said Marko Kivila, CEO of RB Rail.
Rail Baltica has entered full-scale construction across Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, with mainline works, international stations, bridges, and crossings advancing rapidly.
In Estonia, more than 100 km of railway substructure is underway, including at the flagship Ülemiste Terminal.
In Latvia, priority is given to the southern section of the line, where large-scale construction works are underway near Iecava, complemented by progress on the 230 km framework agreement and major developments at the Riga Central Hub and Airport terminals.
In Lithuania, construction is progressing on the Kaunas–Panevėžys section, where 77 km of embankments and engineering structures are currently underway. By the end of 2025, works are expected to cover 114 km, including track-laying and the construction of a new bridge over the Neris River, which will be the longest in the country.
By the end of 2025, 43% of the Rail Baltica mainline will be construction-ready, marking a decisive leap toward Europe’s most ambitious cross-border rail project.
Share on:
