RB Rail has submitted a new application to the European Commission for further European Union funding for Rail Baltica in the Baltic states. The Lithuanian part seeks about €37.3m through the Connecting Europe Facility, or CEF, an EU grant instrument for transport infrastructure.
Application covers systems and power connections
The proposed Lithuanian funding is divided between technical rail systems and supporting infrastructure. A total of €8.96m would fund the design of train control, command and signalling systems, together with the software and hardware needed for them. A further €28.37m would support high-voltage electricity-grid connection infrastructure for the Panevėžys, Išorai and Liudvinavas traction substations. That larger allocation also covers technical documentation, prototypes and testing for railway points and temperature joints, preparation of an infrastructure-maintenance methodology, and land acquisition in the Panevėžys railway junction.
CEF applications are assessed before any award
The CEF process is a grant-application mechanism rather than an automatic release of project funds. RB Rail has submitted the application to the European Commission, and the proposals will be assessed by the Commission and the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency, known as CINEA. The source does not report an award for this latest application. Results are expected in spring 2027. The application by Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia has a combined value of €357.5m, showing how the shared project is presented through a joint Baltic funding request.
Long-term funding remains part of the strategy
Lithuania’s transport minister Juras Taminskas said the project is being financed through several parallel channels: annual applications under CEF calls and regular presentations to the European Commission on progress achieved. Lithuania is also working with Estonia and Latvia in negotiations over the EU’s future multiannual financial framework. The stated objective is to maintain long-term funding for Rail Baltica, rather than rely on a single application. According to the source, the project has already received about €4.5bn in EU investment under 12 CEF grant agreements.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Lithuanian funding sought | About €37.3m |
| Total Baltic application | €357.5m |
| CCS systems allocation | €8.96m |
| Other Lithuanian works | €28.37m |
| Existing CEF grant agreements | 12 |
| EU investment received to date | About €4.5bn |
| Expected assessment results | Spring 2027 |
The technical systems are an inseparable part of the future high-speed railway, ensuring safe traffic management, effective infrastructure maintenance and smooth railway operation.
WHY IT MATTERS
For bidders and infrastructure suppliers, the application identifies the workstreams that may require future design, systems, testing, maintenance and construction capacity. The CEF route also illustrates an important distinction: submitting a funding application starts an assessment process, but does not itself confirm that the requested grant will be awarded.
Reported from vz.lt, 2026-10-29. The Tender Wire is published by Otnox.
