“I am pleased that the implementation of the Rail Baltica project is continuing during this difficult period. It is important to increase the design speed so that construction works can be started in Latvia as soon as possible. The active construction phase of Rail Baltica, which will begin at Riga Central Station this autumn, will be one of the factors contributing to Latvia’s economic development and will help to recover from the effects of Covid-19. The start of construction work in Latvia will create new jobs and make a significant contribution to the development of construction-related industries,” emphasizes Tālis Linkaits, Minister of Transport of the Republic of Latvia. “I encourage all companies to actively follow the development of Rail Baltica and participate in future procurements, as the project is progressing regardless of the Covid-19 situation in Europe. The project implementers are working online and the work is proceeding according to plan.”

“Today we are very pleased to present yet another evidence of progress in the Rail Baltica Project implementation. With the signing of the two contracts, design activities are ongoing on the entire line of Rail Baltica in Latvia as well as in the two passenger terminals in Riga Central Station and airport” says Agnis Driksna, Chairperson of the Management Board of RB Rail AS. “By this, in total 643 km of Rail Baltica main line are being designed in all three Baltic States.”

The section from Vangaži to the Latvian-Estonian State border is the longest design section in Latvia - 94 km long and the design works will take 30 months. According to the preliminary design developed in 2014-2016 in Latvia, it includes the following infrastructure objects: 13 bridges, 36 road viaducts, 3 railway viaducts, 119 culverts and 3 animal crossings. The section from Misa to the Latvian-Lithuanian border is 45 km long and design works will take 24 months. According to the preliminary design – this section includes 4 bridges, 16 road viaducts, 4 railway viaducts, 54 culverts and 1 animal crossing.

Selected contractors will be responsible for site investigations, value engineering, development of the master design and detailed technical design for construction of the railway track, and author supervision during the entire construction period.

85% of the funding necessary for these Rail Baltica design works is provided by the European Union and 15% by Latvian Government.

INECO has been working in transport engineering and consultancy for 50 years, including more than 20 years of experience in high-speed rail industry. The company is operating in more than 50 countries and employing a team of 3000 professionals. Together with an experienced engineering consulting company ARDANUY, they have already been working to deliver Rail Baltica study for the Development of the Rail Baltica Energy Subsystem Procurement and Deployment Strategy in early 2019. ARDUNAY has more than 20-year experience in the field working on 5 continents and more than 60 countries.

IDOM Consulting, Engineering, Architecture, S.A.U. has more than 20 years of experience in designing conventional and high-speed rail in Europe, America, Middle East, and Africa. Recently, the company has been involved in high-speed projects in Spain, Poland and Sweden. IDOM employs 3 500 people in 45 offices worldwide. IDOM is currently involved in the detailed technical design of Rail Baltica main line in two sections in Estonia, two in Lithuania as well as for the main line section through Riga.