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==National Railway System==
==National Railway System==
The national railway [https://www.litrail.lt/en/home AB Lietuvos Geležinkeliai] is being restructured into a state-owned holding company with stand-alone passenger, freight and infrastructure businesses as at March 2019.  
The national railway AB Lietuvos Geležinkeliai is a state-owned holding company with stand-alone passenger, freight and infrastructure businesses. However, access to  [https://www.litrail.lt/en/home its website] is at present blocked to users in some (non EU) countries.
 
The passenger business LG Keleiviams was formally registered on 28 February 2019 and has taken over the Passenger Transport Directorate (Keleivių Vežimo Direkcia) division of Lietuvos Geležinkeliai. However, access to [https://www.litrail.lt/en/keleiviams its website] is also blocked to users in some (non EU) countries.


===National Railway Operator===
===National Railway Operator===
The passenger business [https://www.litrail.lt/en/keleiviams LG Keleiviams] was formally registered on 28 February 2019 and will gradually take over the Passenger Transport Directorate (Keleivių Vežimo Direkcia) division of Lietuvos Geležinkeliai.
[https://www.ltglink.lt/en LTG Link] operates passenger services in Lithuania


==Language==
==Language==
Line 19: Line 21:
==Timetable==
==Timetable==
===Journey Planner===
===Journey Planner===
[https://www.traukiniobilietas.lt/portal/routes-schedules Timetable]
[https://ltglink.lt/en LTG LINK]


===Downloadable Timetable===
===Downloadable Timetable===
2019/20 is available [https://www.traukiniobilietas.lt/portal/info/naujitvarkarasciai here]. The passenger service route map available [https://www.traukiniobilietas.lt/portal/attachments/27281/LG_MAP_4.svg here]
It appears that there isn't a set of timetables that can be downloaded. However a downloadable route timetable, giving intermediate calls, can be created by using [https://bilietas.ltglink.lt/timetable LTG LINK] and selecting the first and last stations on the route. This generates a complete timetable page which can be downloaded.


===Printed Timetable===
===Printed Timetable===
Line 28: Line 30:


===Engineering Information===
===Engineering Information===
[https://www.traukiniobilietas.lt/portal/news/422 Information about the changes of the passenger train schedules]
This information is no longer available.


===Bus Information===
===Bus Information===
[https://www.autobusubilietai.lt/index.php?cl=start&lang=0 autobusubilietai.lt] provides a journey planner for buses in Lithuania and elsewhere in Europe.
[https://www.autobusubilietai.lt/index.php?cl=start&lang=0 autobusubilietai.lt] provides a journey planner for buses in Lithuania and elsewhere in Europe.


[https://luxexpress.eu/en Lux Express] operates coach routes in the Baltic region.
[https://luxexpress.eu/en/ Lux Express] operates coach routes in the Baltic region.


==Maps==
==Maps==
===Printed Maps===
===Printed Maps===
*[https://www.europeanrailwayatlas.com European Railway Atlas]: The Baltic States, Belarus and Ukraine by M.G. Ball (1 June 2017) ISBN  9978-0-9955070-9-8
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.
*[https://www.europeanrailwayatlas.com European Railway Atlas] by M.G. Ball (1 May 2016) ISBN 978-0-9932457-8-7
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-EE-LV-LT-BY-UA-MD | European Railway Atlas (Regional Series - Baltic States, Belarus and Ukraine)]] by M.G. Ball.
*[[Printed Maps#ES-LT-LV-EE | Mapa Kolejowa Litwy, Łotwy i Estonii]] (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) by W. Kolondra.
*[[Printed Maps#QM-LV-LT | Railway Map of Latvia, Lithuania and Russia (Kaliningrad Region)]] by Quail Map Company.


===Web-based Maps===
===Web-based Maps===
*Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_baltic-states.php Map of the Baltic States] Dated October 2009
*Thorsten Büker's [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/estonia_latvia_lithuania_kaliningrad_en.html Map of the Baltic States] Dated July 2023
*Annex 5 of the 2017-2018 [[#Network Statement|Network Statement]]
*Annex 5 of the 2017-2018 [[#Network Statement|Network Statement]]
*[[Maps and Plans#Lithuania|Maps and Plans - Lithuania]]
*[[Maps and Plans#Lithuania|Maps and Plans - Lithuania]]
Line 47: Line 51:
==Ticketing==
==Ticketing==
There are no known network tickets, but fares are cheap.
There are no known network tickets, but fares are cheap.
Tickets can be purchased at the LTG-Link [https://ltglink.lt/en website] including for International travel to Riga.


==Infrastructure==
==Infrastructure==
===Infrastructure Authority===
===Infrastructure Authority===
The [https://infrastructure.litrail.lt/en/kas-mes-esame Railway Infrastructure Directorate (Geležinkelių Infrastruktūros Direkcia)] is a division of Lietuvos Geležinkeliai.
AB LTG Infra is responsible for the infrastructure. However, access to [https://ltginfra.lt/en/home/ its website] is blocked to users in some (non EU) countries.


===Network Statement===
===Network Statement===
The [https://infrastructure.litrail.lt/en/tinklo-nuostatai current Network Statement] can be accessed from the Railway Infrastructure Directorate.
The latest Network Statements are contained in the [https://ltginfra.lt/en/railway-infrastructure/map/network-statements/ Network Statements section].  
 
===Gauge===
===Gauge===
"Russian" gauge (1520 mm) except for
"Russian" gauge (1520 mm) except for
* "Rail Baltica": Trakiszki (Polish border) - Šeštokai - Kaunas (standard gauge; 1435 mm). Rail Baltica is mixed gauge between Mockava and Šeštokai but runs parallel to the 1520 mm gauge line between Šeštokai and Kaunas.
* "Rail Baltica": Trakiszki (Polish border) - Šeštokai - Kaunas - Palemonas (and eventually onwards to the Latvian Border via Panevėžys) (standard gauge; 1435 mm). Rail Baltica is mixed gauge between Mockava and Šeštokai, then parallel to the 1520 mm gauge line between Šeštokai and Palemonas, except for mixed gauge through the tunnel east of Kaunas. The Kaunas avoider appears to have a separate SG track laid only as far as the Russian Gauge loop at Rokeliu.
* Panevėžys - Rubikiai (750mm).
* Panevėžys - Rubikiai (750mm).


Line 67: Line 72:


===Distances===
===Distances===
The Current [[#Network Statement|Network Statement]] gives overall distances for lines in Annex 1 and a network map with distances for each station in Annex 5.
The Current [[#Network Statement|Network Statement]] gives overall distances for lines in Annex 2.


==Other Railways==
==Other Railways==
Line 78: Line 83:
None.
None.


==Trams==
== Trams/LRT-Systems ==
None.
None.


==Recent and Future Changes==
==Recent and Future Changes==
==Future Changes==
===Future Changes===
It had been hoped to finalise electrification of the Vilnius freight bypass in 2018 but this does not seem to have been achieved. There are plans to extend electrification from Radviliskis to Klaipeda by 2022 and from Vilnius into Kaliningrad by 2021.
 
The Vilnius - Šiauliai - Riga service resumed from 27 December 2023.
 
[https://www.rynek-kolejowy.pl/wiadomosci/pendolino-do-wilna-pkp-ic-duzo-ostrozniejsze-niz-mi--111324.html A Polish railway press article] in late December 2022 stated that a through standard gauge service to Kaunas, operated by PKP, was planned from the 2023/24 timetable change. However, there is no sign of this as at December 2023.
 
From four options, the Ministry of Transport selected option 6A in May 2022 as its preferred route for the section of Rail Baltica between the Polish border and Kaunas (Jiesia). This is a 'greenfield' route bypassing Marijampolė, Kazlų Rūda and Kalvarija. The existing 1435 mm gauge cross-border line will continue in use as it is important for military purposes, providing access to the Kazlų Rūda training area.
 
An EU funding agreement to cover 85% of the costs of building the line from Kaunas to the Latvian border (part of the Rail Baltica II project) was signed on November 18 2016 and a Press announcement in May 2021 advised all necessary land had been acquired. In total Rail Baltica will involve 392km of new railway in Lithuania. An October 2021 Press Release advised of delays in Estonia resulting in an estimated completion through to Tallinn in 2030 without mentioning progress and if earlier openings further south are anticipated. It is believed the lines are to  be double track and electrified throughout.


An EU funding agreement to cover 85% of the costs of building the line from Kaunas to the Latvian border (part of the Rail Baltica II project) was signed on November 18 2016. A contract was awarded in October 2016 to lay standard gauge track on the Kaunas avoiding line to the Kaunas intermodal terminal at Palemonas. The target date for completion of the standard gauge line in the Baltic States is 2025. It is now confirmed it will include a link from Kaunas to Vilnius and be double track and electrified throughout.
===Recent Changes (latest developments at top)===


==Recent Changes==
A service from Vilnius via Šiauliai and the cross border line to Jelgava and Riga in Latvia resumed from 27 December 2023.  
Owing to work on the extension of the Rail Baltica route beyond Kaunus, passenger services between Kaunus and Palemonas were replaced by buses from 22 May until September 2019. A temporary station has been built at Palemonas to facilitate rail/bus transfer.


Passenger services were reinstated between (Vilnius -) Oro uostas (Vilnius airport) and Jašiūnai on 9 Dec 2018.  
A pair of PKP IC trains were extended across the border to Mockava from 11 December 2022, with through ticketing onto a booked DMU connection there with a LG service to/from Vilnius. This restored a passenger service on the broad gauge rails between Šeštokai and Kazlu Ruda, withdrawn on 28 September 2013. [Mockava - Šeštokai is mixed gauge.] This resulted in withdrawal of the limited FSSuO Białystok - Kaunas standard gauge service from the same date, resulting in there being no service on the separate parallel standard gauge line between Šeštokai and Kaunas.
The Oro uostas - Valciunai - Stasylos and Paneriai - Valciunai services were withdrawn on 1 January 2015, although shuttle trains continued between Vilnius and Oro uostas.  
 
On 1 July 2022, the (Radviliškis -) Panevėžys - Rokiškis line was closed ‘temporarily’ because of low passenger numbers and a lack of spare parts caused by the war in Ukraine. As at December 2023 Rokiškis did not even appear as an option in the Journey planner drop down boxes.
 
The Białystok (PL) – Kaunas service resumed on 1 July 2022 but a less frequent basis from before.
 
On 2 February 2022 the government approved the electrification of the 309 km Kaišiadorys – Klaipėda – Draugystės (the port branch south of Klaipėda station) route. €197m of the €398m cost will come from the EU Cohesion Fund.
 
The Kaunas Intermodal Terminal at Palemonas opened to commercial traffic on 19 July 2021, when a train arrived from Tilburg in the Netherlands. This is reached via dual gauge track laid beyond Kaunas station to Palemonas in October 2020 as a separate SG track has only been laid as far as the Russian Gauge loop at Rokeliu on the Kaunas avoiding line.
 
The passenger service between Turmantas and Daugavpils (Latvia) was suspended in March 2020. It reopened to passengers on 4 April 2018, with a service only at weekends. It had previously closed at the end of May 2015 when the Vilnius - Sankt Peterburg (Russia) train was withdrawn.
 
The Reņge - Mažeikiai (LG) freight only cross border line reopened on 15 February 2020.
 
Passenger services were reinstated between (Vilnius -) Oro uostas (Vilnius airport) and Jašiūnai on 9 Dec 2018. The Oro uostas - Valciunai - Stasylos and Paneriai - Valciunai services were withdrawn on 1 January 2015, although shuttle trains continued between Vilnius and Oro uostas.  


Klaipēda - Šilutė was reopened to passenger traffic on 1 October 2018, having been discontinued from 29 May 2011
Klaipēda - Šilutė was reopened to passenger traffic on 1 October 2018, having been discontinued from 29 May 2011
The Turmantas - Daugavpils (Latvia) border crossing reopened to passengers on 4 April 2018 with a service only at weekends. It had previously closed at the end of May 2015 when the Vilnius - Sankt Peterburg (Russia) train was withdrawn.


Electrification across the border from Kena into Belarus was completed in Autumn 2017 and a through electric passenger service commenced on 10 December 2017.
Electrification across the border from Kena into Belarus was completed in Autumn 2017 and a through electric passenger service commenced on 10 December 2017.
Line 104: Line 126:


Passenger services over the border crossing between Stasylos and Benjakonī (Belarus) were reintroduced on 6 June 2015, with one train each way between Grodno/Гродна and Vilnius at weekends only, but withdrawn after 8 November.  
Passenger services over the border crossing between Stasylos and Benjakonī (Belarus) were reintroduced on 6 June 2015, with one train each way between Grodno/Гродна and Vilnius at weekends only, but withdrawn after 8 November.  
On 3 August 2011 services to Stasylos had been extended 4.2 km southwards to a new station 1.3 km north of the former Šalčininkai halt and 5.5 km from the Belarus border on the line to Ліда/Lida. This new station was also named Stasylos, the old station being renamed Senosios Stasylos. Services between Stasylos and Benjakonī (Belarus) ceased on 19 September 2008 when the summer-only Vilnius - Simferopol’ train pair ceased running.  
On 3 August 2011 services to Stasylos had been extended 4.2 km southwards to a new station 1.3 km north of the former Šalčininkai halt and 5.5 km from the Belarus border on the line to Ліда/Lida. This new station was also named Stasylos, the old station being renamed Senosios Stasylos. Services between Stasylos and Benjakonī (Belarus) had ceased on 19 September 2008 when the summer-only Vilnius - Simferopol’ train pair ended.  


Palemonas to Gaižiūnai has lost and regained its single train pair more than once. As at January 2015 a service is running.
Palemonas to Gaižiūnai has lost and regained its single train pair more than once. As at January 2015 a service is running.
Line 126: Line 148:
==See also==
==See also==
{{Navbox Lithuania}}
{{Navbox Lithuania}}
[[Category:General Information]]

Latest revision as of 20:30, 17 February 2024

Country Name

Lithuania (Lietuva)

National Railway System

The national railway AB Lietuvos Geležinkeliai is a state-owned holding company with stand-alone passenger, freight and infrastructure businesses. However, access to its website is at present blocked to users in some (non EU) countries.

The passenger business LG Keleiviams was formally registered on 28 February 2019 and has taken over the Passenger Transport Directorate (Keleivių Vežimo Direkcia) division of Lietuvos Geležinkeliai. However, access to its website is also blocked to users in some (non EU) countries.

National Railway Operator

LTG Link operates passenger services in Lithuania

Language

Lithuanian.

Currency

Euro

UIC code

numeric 24; alpha LT

Timetable

Journey Planner

LTG LINK

Downloadable Timetable

It appears that there isn't a set of timetables that can be downloaded. However a downloadable route timetable, giving intermediate calls, can be created by using LTG LINK and selecting the first and last stations on the route. This generates a complete timetable page which can be downloaded.

Printed Timetable

A printed timetable is produced, but appears to be for staff use only. Travel centres such as the one at Vilnius offer individual timetables on photocopied sheets.

Engineering Information

This information is no longer available.

Bus Information

autobusubilietai.lt provides a journey planner for buses in Lithuania and elsewhere in Europe.

Lux Express operates coach routes in the Baltic region.

Maps

Printed Maps

Web-based Maps

Ticketing

There are no known network tickets, but fares are cheap.

Tickets can be purchased at the LTG-Link website including for International travel to Riga.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure Authority

AB LTG Infra is responsible for the infrastructure. However, access to its website is blocked to users in some (non EU) countries.

Network Statement

The latest Network Statements are contained in the Network Statements section.

Gauge

"Russian" gauge (1520 mm) except for

  • "Rail Baltica": Trakiszki (Polish border) - Šeštokai - Kaunas - Palemonas (and eventually onwards to the Latvian Border via Panevėžys) (standard gauge; 1435 mm). Rail Baltica is mixed gauge between Mockava and Šeštokai, then parallel to the 1520 mm gauge line between Šeštokai and Palemonas, except for mixed gauge through the tunnel east of Kaunas. The Kaunas avoider appears to have a separate SG track laid only as far as the Russian Gauge loop at Rokeliu.
  • Panevėžys - Rubikiai (750mm).

Electrification

25kV 50 Hz

Rule of the road

Most lines are single track, but on double track sections right hand running applies.

Distances

The Current Network Statement gives overall distances for lines in Annex 2.

Other Railways

None.

Tourist Lines

The Panevėžys - Rubikiai 750mm gauge railway.

Metro

None.

Trams/LRT-Systems

None.

Recent and Future Changes

Future Changes

The Vilnius - Šiauliai - Riga service resumed from 27 December 2023.

A Polish railway press article in late December 2022 stated that a through standard gauge service to Kaunas, operated by PKP, was planned from the 2023/24 timetable change. However, there is no sign of this as at December 2023.

From four options, the Ministry of Transport selected option 6A in May 2022 as its preferred route for the section of Rail Baltica between the Polish border and Kaunas (Jiesia). This is a 'greenfield' route bypassing Marijampolė, Kazlų Rūda and Kalvarija. The existing 1435 mm gauge cross-border line will continue in use as it is important for military purposes, providing access to the Kazlų Rūda training area.

An EU funding agreement to cover 85% of the costs of building the line from Kaunas to the Latvian border (part of the Rail Baltica II project) was signed on November 18 2016 and a Press announcement in May 2021 advised all necessary land had been acquired. In total Rail Baltica will involve 392km of new railway in Lithuania. An October 2021 Press Release advised of delays in Estonia resulting in an estimated completion through to Tallinn in 2030 without mentioning progress and if earlier openings further south are anticipated. It is believed the lines are to be double track and electrified throughout.

Recent Changes (latest developments at top)

A service from Vilnius via Šiauliai and the cross border line to Jelgava and Riga in Latvia resumed from 27 December 2023.

A pair of PKP IC trains were extended across the border to Mockava from 11 December 2022, with through ticketing onto a booked DMU connection there with a LG service to/from Vilnius. This restored a passenger service on the broad gauge rails between Šeštokai and Kazlu Ruda, withdrawn on 28 September 2013. [Mockava - Šeštokai is mixed gauge.] This resulted in withdrawal of the limited FSSuO Białystok - Kaunas standard gauge service from the same date, resulting in there being no service on the separate parallel standard gauge line between Šeštokai and Kaunas.

On 1 July 2022, the (Radviliškis -) Panevėžys - Rokiškis line was closed ‘temporarily’ because of low passenger numbers and a lack of spare parts caused by the war in Ukraine. As at December 2023 Rokiškis did not even appear as an option in the Journey planner drop down boxes.

The Białystok (PL) – Kaunas service resumed on 1 July 2022 but a less frequent basis from before.

On 2 February 2022 the government approved the electrification of the 309 km Kaišiadorys – Klaipėda – Draugystės (the port branch south of Klaipėda station) route. €197m of the €398m cost will come from the EU Cohesion Fund.

The Kaunas Intermodal Terminal at Palemonas opened to commercial traffic on 19 July 2021, when a train arrived from Tilburg in the Netherlands. This is reached via dual gauge track laid beyond Kaunas station to Palemonas in October 2020 as a separate SG track has only been laid as far as the Russian Gauge loop at Rokeliu on the Kaunas avoiding line.

The passenger service between Turmantas and Daugavpils (Latvia) was suspended in March 2020. It reopened to passengers on 4 April 2018, with a service only at weekends. It had previously closed at the end of May 2015 when the Vilnius - Sankt Peterburg (Russia) train was withdrawn.

The Reņge - Mažeikiai (LG) freight only cross border line reopened on 15 February 2020.

Passenger services were reinstated between (Vilnius -) Oro uostas (Vilnius airport) and Jašiūnai on 9 Dec 2018. The Oro uostas - Valciunai - Stasylos and Paneriai - Valciunai services were withdrawn on 1 January 2015, although shuttle trains continued between Vilnius and Oro uostas.

Klaipēda - Šilutė was reopened to passenger traffic on 1 October 2018, having been discontinued from 29 May 2011

Electrification across the border from Kena into Belarus was completed in Autumn 2017 and a through electric passenger service commenced on 10 December 2017.

The Vilnius - Marcinkonys service was cut back to Varėna at an unknown date between December 2015 and November 2016 but had reopened by Mid March 2017.

After some false starts, passenger services were introduced over the standard gauge (1435 mm) Rail Baltica line between Šeštokai and Kaunas on 17 June 2016. These comprised Białystok – Kaunas trains operated by Polish diesel units: two trains each way on Saturdays and Sundays, with a northbound train on Fridays and a southbound train on Mondays. The separate 1435 mm gauge track runs alongside the existing broad gauge route between Šeštokai and Kaunas, in contrast to the original plans for a partly new route. An unexpected consequence was that no LG passenger service resumed south of Marijampole to Šeštokai, so the last broad gauge passenger trains ran on this section on 28 September 2013. At Šeštokai there is now only a platform on one of the new standard gauge tracks, but even so it took until 6 October 2017 before this SG service started to call there.

Passenger services over the border crossing between Stasylos and Benjakonī (Belarus) were reintroduced on 6 June 2015, with one train each way between Grodno/Гродна and Vilnius at weekends only, but withdrawn after 8 November. On 3 August 2011 services to Stasylos had been extended 4.2 km southwards to a new station 1.3 km north of the former Šalčininkai halt and 5.5 km from the Belarus border on the line to Ліда/Lida. This new station was also named Stasylos, the old station being renamed Senosios Stasylos. Services between Stasylos and Benjakonī (Belarus) had ceased on 19 September 2008 when the summer-only Vilnius - Simferopol’ train pair ended.

Palemonas to Gaižiūnai has lost and regained its single train pair more than once. As at January 2015 a service is running.

Through Vilnius - Druskininkai LG trains and the Vilnius - Warszawa overnight service, both via Parėččė (Belarus), ceased in 2001, resulting in withdrawal of all trains south of Marcinkonys.

Regular services over the Panevėžys - Anykščiai narrow gauge line ceased from 25 March 2001.

Since late 1998 the following lines have lost their passenger service:

  • Jonaitiškai – Kutiškiai
  • [Šiauliai -] Mankiškai - Jonaitiškai - Tauragė - Pagėgiai - Šilutė - Klaipēda (Klaipēda - Šilutė subsequently reopened but has since closed again)
  • Švenčionėliai - Utena
  • Šeštokai - Alytus
  • [Klaipēda -] Kretinga - Skuodas
  • [Vilnius -] Paneriai - Valičiūniai (but has subsequently reopened)

Special notes

None.

See also