Joint regional train tender launched for Rail Baltica
CROSS-BORDER: Estonia’s Elron, Latvia’s Vivi and Lithuania’s LTG Link, the three national passenger operators, have launched a joint procurement for Rail Baltica regional trains.
The procurement was announced in Tallinn on March 18 and covers up to 20 electric trains for the future 1435 mm network.
The trains are intended for regional services on the new line and are being specified for speeds of up to 200 km/h. The move adds a rolling stock dimension to a project that has so far focused mainly on infrastructure.
Joint procurement adds operating dimension
The tender matters not only for the trains, but also because it is being run jointly. Instead of separate national orders, the three operators are preparing a common fleet basis for the new corridor.
That gives the procurement a wider system dimension than a conventional rolling-stock purchase. It suggests how regional passenger services could be organised on the future cross-border railway.