The Lithuanian Railways Group’s company, LTG Link has recently announced that the inaugural journey for the Vilnius-Riga rail link is set to start on December 27 this year, with the warning that the dates may be modified.
The company also revealed that the train service is set to make stops at key locations, including Vilnius, Kaišiadorys, Šiauliai, Joniškis, Jelgava, and Riga.
In this regard, the vice-minister of transport and communications, Loreta Maskaliovienė, expressed optimism about the decision, emphasising the potential for further enhancements.
She also noted that the company’s intention is for the Vilnius–Riga route to be complemented in the future with a connection to Tallinn.
Furthermore, the vice-minister highlighted the broader impact, stating that the ongoing construction of the Rail Baltica railway line is expected to not only expedite travel to neighbouring regions but also enhance overall comfort for passengers.
At the same time, the interim manager of LTG Link, Gediminas Šečkus, stated that the new route enables non-stop journeys between the capitals of Lithuania and Latvia without the need for train changes.
In preparation for the upcoming route, LTG Link is actively engaged in preliminary activities. The company has taken a significant step by agreeing with the Latvian infrastructure manager, securing the utilization of the country’s railways.
LTG Link has applied to the Latvian and European authorities for the necessary permits for operating an international route on Latvian territory. – LTG Link
In March this year, the Lithuanian Airports Branch launched the summer air season in the country. Through a statement, the airport unveiled over 80 scheduled direct routes for passengers departing from Lithuanian airports.
The newly introduced routes cater to diverse travellers, including those in business and those seeking popular EU destinations.
According to the airport representative, Zitikis, the expanded summer air season will provide passengers with more than eighty direct flight options. In addition, charter flights will run concurrently, meeting the continued demand for vacation flights. Passengers departing from Vilnius Airport will have access to the majority of these new and renewed routes, connecting to nearly 50 destinations.
In February 2023, Lithuanian airports reached a milestone by being among the first in the EU to finalize all necessary preparations for implementing the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES). The readiness of the EES infrastructure at Lithuanian airports reflects an important step forward in meeting the evolving standards of border security and immigration control within the EU.
