French companies interested in joining Rail Baltica project

“Rail Baltica intends to combine several international transport corridors hence participation in this project is a historic possibility, which cannot be missed. A well-developed rail network is necessary to ensure the attractiveness of this mode of transport in Europe. We are interested in Rail Baltica’s implementation calendar, building stages, economic and financial substantiation,” a press release from the Transport Ministry quoted Gaelle Leroux, an adviser to SNCF CEO, as saying.

Leroux met with Lithuania’s Transport Minister Eligijus Masiulis in Vilnius on Wednesday.

“We highly appreciate your experience. The more of such solid companies take part in the project implementation, the more we could expect this project to be a success,” Masiulis said.

Rail Baltica was one of European Union’s (EU) priority transport projects, he said. The railway line will be part of two international transport corridors – one connecting the Baltic countries with the Adriatic Sea region and the other one connecting Kaunas and Rotterdam.

Lithuania expects to complete the European-gage railway from the Polish border to Kaunas by the end of 2013.

Transport ministers of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have signed an agreement on the establishment of a joint venture for the implementation of Rail Baltica project. A joint task group established by the Baltic countries for dealing with specific project implementation issues will hold a meeting in Tallinn this week.

Lithuania‘s government has granted Rail Baltica the status of an economic project of national importance.  Rail Baltica is part of the EU's trans-European transport network development program.