FS, Italferr key player in the European Rail Baltica project

Another important international milestone for FS Group. The largest railway electrification contract ever concluded in Europe was signed in Vilnius with Italferr, which will play a leading role in the Rail Baltica project, in partnership with other foreign companies. The first-rate strategic infrastructure for the European Union will extend for 870 kilometres, across five countries: Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and, indirectly, Finland. The total value of the contract is EUR 1.7 billion.

The line will run from Warsaw to Tallinn[AB1] , where a submarine link to Helsinki will be built in the future. FS Group's engineering company will be in charge of supervising and coordinating the completion of the signalling and energy subsystems, and of overseeing the works for construction of the new 230 km double-track high-speed line in Latvia.

The contract signed with the COBELEC consortium (Cobra & Grupo Elecnor) represents a milestone for the infrastructure development of the Baltic region and its integration into the TEN-T network of the European rail system by 2030, with significant impacts in terms of sustainability, energy efficiency and interoperability. A positive impact is also expected on the financial and labour front, with about 13,000 jobs being created during the implementation phase. The project will raise the regional GDP growth by 0.5-0.7% per year, stimulating urban development, tourism and new business opportunities. An estimated 30-40% reduction in heavy road traffic and savings for EUR 7.1 billion are also expected.

Rail Baltica is one of Europe's most ambitious cross-border railway projects, bound to radically transform mobility in this area. With the electrification works under way, a new operational phase begins for Rail Baltica, on its way to become a high-speed, efficient and integrated railway axis in the heart of Europe.