Lithuania’s Government has approved amendments to the Railway Transport Code prepared by the Ministry of Transport and Communications. These changes aim to promote the expansion of freight transport services by introducing fee discounts, as well as enhance the protection of train passengers’ rights.
“We aim to encourage our residents to choose one of the most sustainable and safest modes of transport – trains – more often. These amendments will further strengthen passenger rights, promote the provision of new services, and increase the volume of freight transported by rail,” the Minister of Transport and Communications, Eugenijus Sabutis, said.
The proposed changes will ensure adequate funding for the railway transport market regulator’s activities, even when carrier payments are reduced. They will also help ensure compliance with railway transport operational requirements.
Once the amendments to the Railway Transport Code come into effect, the national railway infrastructure manager will be allowed to apply discounts on charges for the use of public railway infrastructure. It is expected that this will encourage the provision of new rail transport services, especially on less intensively used routes.
To clarify responsibilities regarding the protection of passenger rights, it is proposed that the State Consumer Rights Protection Authority be responsible for examining passenger complaints related to potential violations of their rights. The Lithuanian Transport Safety Administration would be tasked with ensuring compliance with the European Union regulation on rail passenger rights. This would enable proactive measures to ensure proper enforcement of passenger rights in Lithuania, rather than only responding after a complaint has been received.
The Government-approved amendments to the Railway Transport Code will come into force by the end of this year, provided they are approved by the Seimas.
According to data published by the LTG Group, investment in railway infrastructure in the country last year amounted to EUR 389 million.
In 2024, 5.5 million passengers travelled by train in Lithuania. Over the past year, the number of passengers choosing trains as the most sustainable mode of travel increased by 10%. LTG Group aims to increase passenger numbers to 9.3 million by 2029.
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