At the RailTech Europe 2026 conference in Utrecht, Emilien Dang, Chief Technical Officer and Member of the Management Board at RB Rail AS, presented the strategic role of the Rail Baltica project as both a civilian transport link and a corridor that can support military mobility.
In his presentation, “Rail Baltica as a Strategic Dual-Use Corridor for Civilian and Military Transport,” Dang explained how the project strengthens connectivity across the Baltic region while also contributing to Europe’s security and resilience.
Strengthening Europe’s North–South connectivity
Rail Baltica is one of Europe’s largest rail infrastructure projects, designed to integrate Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania into the European standard-gauge railway network. The new line will connect the Baltic States with Poland and the wider European rail system, improving passenger travel and freight transport across the region.
By replacing the legacy broad-gauge rail system with the European standard gauge, the project will enable seamless cross-border operations and reduce travel times between major Baltic cities and the rest of Europe.
The project has now entered a decisive construction phase, with progress underway across all three Baltic States. More than 267 kilometres of the mainline are currently construction-ready, marking an important milestone for Rail Baltica. In Estonia, 103 kilometres of the mainline are under construction. In Latvia, works are ongoing on 30 kilometres of the priority section as well as at Riga Central Station and Riga Airport. In Lithuania, track laying has started on the first 8.8 kilometres of the line, while 114 kilometres of the mainline are also under construction.
Enabling military mobility
A key focus of Dang’s presentation was the dual-use nature of the Rail Baltica corridor. While primarily designed for passenger and freight transport, the infrastructure is also being developed to meet requirements for military mobility.
Rail Baltica’s technical standards and capacity will allow the rapid movement of troops, heavy equipment and logistical supplies across the region. This capability is increasingly important in the current geopolitical environment, where NATO allies are working to improve the speed and efficiency of reinforcement to the Baltic region.
Infrastructure as a driver of integration and growth
Dang also highlighted the project’s broader impact on regional integration and economic development. Beyond its strategic and defence role, Rail Baltica is expected to improve logistics efficiency, stimulate trade and attract investment across the Baltic States.
As part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), the railway will connect the region to major European transport corridors, strengthening the movement of goods and people between Northern and Central Europe.
The presentation also highlighted the growing link between transport infrastructure, economic resilience and security policy in Europe. Large-scale infrastructure projects such as Rail Baltica increasingly serve multiple strategic purposes, supporting economic development while strengthening defence readiness and regional stability.
About RailTech Europe
RailTech Europe is an international railway technology conference and exhibition focused on innovation in rail infrastructure, operations and digitalisation. The event brings together railway experts, infrastructure managers, technology companies, policymakers and researchers to discuss the future of rail transport.