Rail Baltica is a railway infrastructure megaproject that spans across several countries. The depth of skills and expertise required to successfully execute a greenfield project of this caliber is extensive and would not be possible without our diverse team of professionals.
Welcome back to our series, “Rail Baltica: The People Behind the Vision,” where we introduce you to the members of the Rail Baltica global project team. These individuals are the driving force advancing the Rail Baltica project with their professionalism, dedication, and passion for this project.
Jānis Krēmers, Railway Systems Engineer, RB Rail AS
This week, we are pleased to introduce Jānis Krēmers, Railway Systems Engineer at RB Rail AS. With international construction experience and a strong focus on operational safety, Jānis ensures that risks are identified early and systematically addressed in line with EU safety principles. He is motivated by the potential of electrified rail as a sustainable, long-distance transport mode and is dedicated to embedding safety as a core element of Rail Baltica. His proactive mindset and commitment to continuous improvement reflect his drive to help deliver a project that will make a lasting difference for society and future generations.
What does your job involve?
My work focuses on operational safety and hazard management in line with the Common Safety Method principles, as mandated by EU regulations. This involves coordinating the hazard identification process, managing risk assessments, supporting the definition of safety requirements, and ensuring that mitigation measures are sufficient to address identified hazards. The goal is to ensure safety is systematically integrated.
What do you believe is the most challenging aspect of this mega project?
One of the key challenges lies in fully understanding the project’s complexity, especially from strategic and political perspectives, which requires experienced and capable leadership to effectively face and solve the issues that arise. It is typical in construction projects that early-stage issues are easy to overlook because their consequences are not immediately visible; however, as the project matures, these problems eventually will lead to consequences that cannot be ignored. Like many large-scale projects, it is crucial to stay aware of early signals of potential issues.
What advice would you give to a newcomer joining the Rail Baltica project team?
Be proactive in learning from every discipline and professional background. A multidisciplinary project like this is a rare learning opportunity. At the same time, maintain a critical perspective – remember that even the most experienced professionals can be wrong, so engage with ideas thoughtfully, not just reputations.
What specific contribution or skill do you believe you bring to the Rail Baltica project team that sets you apart from others?
I bring a strong foundation in construction, built through experience both in Latvia and internationally. This background helps me navigate the scale and technical complexity of the Rail Baltica project. My strength lies in seamlessly incorporating safety into the broader civil engineering framework, treating it as a key part of the process rather than something added at the end. On a more personal level, I naturally tend to see and analyze risks in almost everything in daily life. While that mindset can sometimes be a bit overwhelming, when applied to the right things, it becomes a real strength. It allows me to spot potential issues early and support more proactive, safety-focused decision-making within the project.
What hobbies, interests, talents do you have?
Most of my interests are sport-related. I enjoy running, cycling, football, volleyball and gym, which help me stay active on a regular basis. In recent years, I have also become more drawn to sailing and skiing – both cross-country and alpine. The biggest challenge is finding enough time for these activities, as they require more planning and vacation days. Still, I see them as some of the best ways to spend time off, and I try to fit them in whenever I can.
What is it about the rail industry that you love?
Electrified railway holds great potential as it is one of the few transport modes that can be both climate friendly and efficient over long distances. It is rewarding to be part of a system that, if executed well, can genuinely make a difference.
Who inspired you during your career and why?
I would not say I have been inspired by a particular person – instead, here in the project, I am motivated by clear goals and by real-world events, especially past incidents that showed what can go wrong. These moments stay with me because they are more than theoretical lessons – they are reminders of what is at stake. We are at a point in the project where we either endorse future accidents through inaction or help prevent them through the choices we make today. That mindset drives me more than any individual figure – it is about being accountable to the outcomes and the people affected by them.
In your career, what is the biggest challenge you have had to overcome?
One of the biggest challenges I faced was during my university years, when I struggled to balance my studies with other interests. Regaining focus and rebuilding my academic discipline was a turning point for me – both personally and professionally – and it taught me the importance of consistency and long term commitment.
What would you say is the achievement you are most proud of?
One of the achievements I am most proud of is the ongoing safety progress we are making in the project I am involved in. It is not about one major success, but a continuous series of small, meaningful improvements that are helping to build a safer railway over time. A key part of this effort is regularly identifying potential hazards and acting before they develop into real risks. While new safety measures often face added cost and initial resistance, every time we manage to implement one, especially those that were initially underestimated- it feels like real progress. In railway safety, the work is never truly finished, and every step forward counts.