Baltic transport ministers agree on establishing “Rail Baltica” joint venture

Baltic transport ministers came a step closer to an agreement on making a high speed railroad system - from Tallinn to Berlin - a reality during a common meeting in Riga yesterday. The formalities for the establishment of a “Rail Baltica 2″ company will be settled by the end of July.

Qouting Lithuanian Transport Minister Rimantas Sinkevicius this is the first real step toward successful implementation of the project. Estonian Economic Affairs and Communications Minister Juhan Parts stressed that now the emphasis would be laid on planning, assessment of environmental impact and infrastructure matters.
Latvian Transport Minister Anrijs Matiss said that the railroad had significant potential for freight transport, primarily transport of freights that are currently transported by road, because railroad is a more efficient and convenient mode of transport.The three Baltic counties will invite Poland and Finland to join the project on equal terms, and draw up documents on the establishment of a joint venture by the end of July of this year.