Latvia calls Finland all-aboard Rail Baltica

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Latvian Transport Minister Anrijs Matiss urged Finland to join in on the Rail Baltica II European standard-gauge railway project after discussing cooperation possibilities with Finnish Transport Minister Paula Risikko on Wednesday in Helsinki.

“Considering the importance of the project for the entire Nordic-Baltic region, I would like to take the opportunity to invite Finland to get actively involved in implementation of this strategic project and the operations of the Rail Baltica II joint venture. Finland is invited to join the Rail Baltica II joint venture as a shareholder in line with the terms of the shareholder agreement,” said the Latvian transport minister, there with the delegation accompanying Latvian President Andris Berzins on his official visit.

Matīss added that "Progress in respect of the Fourth Railway Package is critical for development of a European single transport area therefore the work on this package has been defined as one of the key priorities of the Latvian Presidency,” strengthening the European railway network would be a priority of the Latvian Presidency

The Latvian and Finnish transport ministers also shared notes on transport cooperation with Russia in the freight and passenger sectors and talked on how to deal with the effects of the economic decline in Russia on the national transport and logistics sectors in both countries.

The Rail Baltica II project seeks to re-establish a direct connection between the Baltic states and the European railway network. The project is expected to encourage regional integration by means of a rail link from Helsinki connecting Tallinn, Riga, Kaunas, Warsaw and Berlin to potentially be extended to Venice. In Latvia the railway should also have a link to the Riga railway station and the airport, attracting additional passenger and cargo flow.

 

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