Electrification

Electrification of Kaišiadorys - Klaipėda (Draugystės st.) section and Vilnius railway junction

The electrification of Vilnius–Klaipėda, the most heavily used railway line in Lithuania, is one of the largest railway infrastructure modernisation projects in Lithuania, contributing to the Group's long-term commitment to develop and build a sustainable transport system in the country. Railway electrification is a high priority both in Lithuania and across the European Union (EU) as one of the EU's Green Deal implementation measures. Electrification enables a shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.  

The Vilnius–Klaipėda railway artery is the most heavily used railway section in the country, so its electrification is important for the infrastructure of the whole country.   

Three railway lines in Lithuania are now fully electrified: the Vilnius–Kaunas, Vilnius–Trakai and Vilnius–Kena lines. This represents 8% of the country's total network, and the electrification project will bring the country's electrified railway track length to almost 27%.  

This railway electrification project includes the construction of 363 km of overhead contact network, the construction of six traction substations in Lentvaris, Žeimiai, Linkačiai, Tarvainiai, Kretinga and Žasliai, their connection to Litgrid's power supply network and testing, as well as the construction of eight autotransformers to ensure the stability of the power supply voltage on the overhead contact network.  

The completion of the modernisation of the Vilnius–Klaipėda section will give the country's most important railway line a new impetus, both in terms of increasing the competitiveness of the transport sector as a whole and reducing the environmental impact. It is estimated that the electrification of this section will not emit more than 150,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, and the economic benefits of the project, such as lower fossil fuel costs, are also crucial.  

The total investment in the electrification project is planned to be Eur 423.36 million, about half of which – Eur 200 million – will come from the EU Cohesion Fund.