Lithuania is making great strides towards a greener railway, going from 8% electrification to 28% in just a few years. Vytis Žalimas, CEO of railway manager LTG Infra, talks about the country’s green path ahead of speaking at the RailTech Europe conference on 4 March, where he will delve deeper into the country’s sustainable rail plans.
By the end of this year, Lithuania will see the share of electrified railway lines reach 28%, while just 3 years ago, this was still at only 8%. The steady electrification of the 363 km Vilnius–Klaipėda railway artery, the most heavily used railway section in the country, is the reason why, highlights LTG Infra CEO Vytis Žalimas. This year LTG will also introduce the first battery train charging station in the Baltics.
Another big project in Lithuania is the construction of Rail Baltica, the brand-new high-speed line connecting Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and on to Poland and the rest of Europe. Once it is completed, the share of electrification in Lithuania will be 38%. But if battery train trials prove successful and are rolled out on regional lines, nearly 80% of all rail traffic in the country will run on electricity—thanks to a mix of traditional electrification and battery-powered trains.
A green turnaround
Lithuania’s railway network has long been a story of cargo over passengers, with heavy freight trains dominating the tracks— one of the reasons why electrification had little priority in the past, explains Žalimas. But everything is changing. “The shift to go in a sustainable direction initially came from the European Union,” he explains. “With their support, we’ve been able to finance what is a huge project for a country of our size.”
The push for electrification is not just about meeting EU targets, however. “At LTG Infra, sustainability is not a side initiative but the core principle guiding our mega modernisation of Lithuania’s railway infrastructure.” It is also about seizing an economic opportunity. Žalimas notes that electrified lines are far more cost-efficient to operate than diesel, with projections showing 700 million euros in the socio-economic benefits spread out over the lifetime of the project.
For the head of the railway manager, the shift toward sustainability in this day and age is not just about technology; it’s about leadership. “It’s an extremely important moment to withstand the new direction which is coming from the United States, that sustainability doesn’t make sense. Here we do not agree on that. We firmly believe we need to build green infrastructure for our kids and future generations,” he asserts.
“A small country like Lithuania, even though it’s an extremely expensive way to go, is still investing a massive amount of money towards this future infrastructure, which will give social and economical benefits in the future.”
Battery trains: a test case with large potential
One of the most innovative aspects of Lithuania’s railway overhaul is its embrace of battery-powered trains. While full-scale adoption is still under evaluation, LTG Infra will test the technology on a regional line. “We will finish the infrastructure this year and start operating battery and electric trains,” Žalimas says. “If successful, we will extend this to all regional lines.”
The logic is simple: with distances of 100 to 150 kilometres, battery trains can easily cover the routes, recharging at stations along the way. It’s a pragmatic solution for a country where full electrification is not always financially feasible or necessary.
Hydrogen trains are also on the radar, though further down the line and not for passenger trains. LTG Cargo plans to test hydrogen-powered locomotives, starting with shunting activities. “If it works efficiently, they might expand,” Žalimas adds.
Smart grids and sustainable sleepers
Lithuania’s sustainability drive does not stop at electrification. The country is experimenting with smart grid solutions by installing energy storage facilities that capture power generated both by solar panels installed on noise barriers along railway tracks and by regenerative braking. “This way we collect electricity when it’s cheap and give it back when electricity prices are high,” Žalimas explains. Recovering the energy from braking trains will be trialled on the Vilnius-Klaipėda line.
LTG Infra is also trialling a more sustainable sleeper alternative compared to traditional concrete ones. Composite sleepers, which are lighter and more durable than traditional wooden or concrete ones, are being tested on bridges. The infra manager is also collaborating with supplier Voestalpine to trial high-density metal tracks, which promise longer lifespans and lower maintenance costs.
While Lithuania is well ahead on its path to a net-zero railway, there are still steps to be taken, such as the phasing out of diesel in the yellow fleet vehicles for track maintenance and in construction activities. For Rail Baltica, it is currently being explored what kind of yellow machine fleet should be acquired, including more sustainable versions, says Žalimas, but this still needs to be agreed upon.
“The challenges to sustainability are real, especially with differing views from across the ocean,” notes the LTG Infra CEO. “But as the EU, we should keep going in the same direction, show leadership and fight for a greener world.”
