Those interested in the development of the Rail Baltica European-gauge railway line in the Panevėžys region have the opportunity to get acquainted with the special plan for the railway node, including all planned railway infrastructure. The node is being developed to ensure that Panevėžys is connected to the newly-built European railway in a way that is convenient for all and in line with the principles of sustainable mobility.
The communities of Panevėžys city and district, stakeholder groups, business representatives and the public are invited to actively participate and cooperate in the spatial planning process by submitting well-reasoned comments and proposals for the plan.
“A total of three Rail Baltica international passenger stations are planned on the territory of Lithuania, one of which will be built in Panevėžys. This is a definite benefit for the city and the region. We aim to ensure that the chosen railway route and station locations fully maximize the potential of European-gauge railway usage while also striving to harmonize the expectations of all stakeholders and the public,” says Deputy Minister for Transport and Communications Loreta Maskaliovienė.
Three alternatives for developing the European-gauge rail network are currently being presented to the public. Under the preferred option, the Panevėžys International Passenger Railway Station would be built closer to the city, in its western part, where the major shopping centres are located. The freight station would be built in Panevėžys District. A passenger station is also planned at Gustoniai.
“Prior to the submission of the rail route alternatives for public consultation, meetings were held with representatives of the city and district of Panevėžys. These discussions were very important in order to find the best solutions that would meet both the parameters of Rail Baltica and the expectations of the future railway passengers, i.e. the residents of the nearby districts as well as citizens and visitors to the city,” says Dovydas Palaima, General Manager of Rail Baltica at LTG Infra.
Additional meetings with local sub-districts of Panevėžys are planned until mid-August, during which the residents will be informed about prepared documents and their questions will be answered.
The preferred development alternative proposed by the planner has been selected following a strategic environmental impact assessment, which took into account not only environmental but also social and economic factors. A multi-criteria evaluation and cost-benefit analysis of the presented alternatives have also already been carried out.
Rail Baltica is the largest railway infrastructure project in the history of the Baltic states this century, which will see the construction of an electrified, European-standard double-track railway linking Warsaw, Kaunas, Vilnius, Panevėžys, Riga, Parnu, and Tallinn. The total length of the Rail Baltica line in the Baltics is 870 km: 392 km in Lithuania, 265 km in Latvia, and 213 km in Estonia.
Useful information
The concept paper and the Strategic Environmental Assessment Report on the Special Plan are available for consultation until 16 August.
During this period, the spatial planning document can be accessed in the information system TPDRIS (TPD No. S-NC-00-21-348) of the Lithuanian spacial planning system via its online map, at the office of the development consultant Kelprojektas (visits in person by appointment only), and on the website of the Ministry of Transport and Communications on https://sumin.lrv.lt/.
A public meeting will take place on 17 August at 4 pm at the premises of Panevėžys City Municipality at Laisvės a. 20, Panevėžys. The meeting will be webcast (video link here).