The vote was carried by 78 votes to zero in the 100-member chamber.
Rail Baltica will allow passenger trains to reach speeds of up to 240 kilometers per hour instead of the current 120 - which itself seems highly optimistic to anyone who has attempted to cross the Baltic states by train in recent years.
Cargo will be able to move from Tallinn to Poland in less than two days instead of four.
"It is expected that during the construction of the railway connection in Latvia over 10 thousand jobs will be created," RB Rail board member Kaspars Rokens told parliamentarians in a report ahead of the vote on the 6 billion euro construction plan, which is expected to take at least a decade to complete.
It is expected that by 2030 the Rail Baltica will be transported in trucks of about 13 million tonnes, including over it will be transported part of the Finnish import and export of goods, pre-deputies said a / s "RB Rail" business development manager Kaspars Briškens. Similarly, Rail Baltica will allow Latvian exporters to access new markets.
The ratification came as the executive in over-all charge of the project, Baiba Rubesa of RB Rail, briefed G7 governments on how it is expected to pan out and difference it will make to the regional and international economies.
Rubesa focused her presentation on the European value of the project, its social benefits and the wider socio-economic impact on the three Baltic States.
“Due to the scope of Rail Baltica, its unique cross-border experience and socio-economic impact this project is emblematic of the type of cross-border infrastructure projects that the European Commission promotes. It is an interesting example to share with the transport ministers of the most advanced economies in the world," Rubesa said after her presentation.
The event was attended by the Transport Ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US.
As previously reported by LSM, Estonia ratified the agreement a few days ago.
