The recently held Intelligent Rail Summit 2024, organized by ProMedia Group, positioned Rail Baltica at the forefront of discussions on the future of rail transport. Held for the first time in a Baltic country, the conference highlighted the strategic significance of Rail Baltica as a transformative infrastructure project, integrating the Baltic region into the broader European rail network.
The event featured key contributions from Rail Baltica leadership, including members of the project’s central coordinator RB Rail’s Management Board: Marko Kivila, Chairperson of the Board and CEO, and Emilien Dang, Chief Technical Officer, as well as Anvar Salomets, CEO of Rail Baltic Estonia, the project’s national implementing body in Estonia.
Delivering an update on Rail Baltica’s progress, Marko Kivila said: “Rail Baltica is a transformative rail infrastructure initiative connecting the Baltic countries – Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania – with Poland, Finland, and the broader EU railway network. This year, construction activities have accelerated significantly, with approximately 150 km of the mainline and related infrastructure expected to be under construction by year-end. Moreover, major railway subsystem procurements are nearing completion.”
The conference delved into emerging technologies and challenges facing the rail industry, exploring topics such as train monitoring systems, predictive maintenance, asset management, and the integration of AI and cybersecurity. Rail Baltica’s active involvement underscored its forward-looking approach to these challenges, offering insights into how innovation can enhance efficiency and sustainability.
In his keynote address, Emilien Dang outlined Rail Baltica’s approach to leveraging advanced technologies to set new benchmarks in smart rail systems: “Rail Baltica will lay the foundation for advanced rail solutions in the region, fostering seamless, hassle-free passenger experiences while prioritizing sustainability. We are creating a railway capable of meeting future demands.”
During a panel discussion, Dang emphasized the importance of innovation in shaping the railways of the future. He pointed to advancements like autonomous trains, smart infrastructure, and scalable systems as critical to ensuring long-term efficiency and adaptability.
“The infrastructure we build today is designed to last for the next century. Rail Baltica’s greenfield development allows us to integrate advanced technologies from the outset, avoiding costly retrofitting and ensuring a sustainable, efficient railway system,” Emilien Dang added.
Anvar Salomets, emphasized Rail Baltica’s critical role in linking the Baltic countries with the broader European rail network. He highlighted the Ülemiste terminal – the international Rail Baltica railway station currently under construction in Estonia and visited by conference participants as part of the event – as a state-of-the-art hub at the heart of this vision:
“The Ülemiste terminal will be a vital transport hub that integrates international and local travel. Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, it exemplifies advanced mobility solutions and enhances Estonia’s role in Europe’s rail network.”
