Lithuanian railway: features, rolling stock

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:42

Lithuania is a small B altic republic located in the northeast of the European Union. Located on the coast of the B altic Sea, near Latvia, Belarus and the Kaliningrad region. The capital of Lithuania is the city of Vilnius.

Lithuania has an area of 65,300 sq. km, and the length is 280 km in the meridional direction and 370 km in the latitudinal direction. The population is small - only 3 million people. However, this is the highest figure among the B altic states. The number of inhabitants is rapidly declining. The population density is 49 people/km². The country's GDP is 82.5 billion dollars, and per capita GDP is 28.4 thousand dollars a year. Lithuania is a member of the UN, EU and NATO. The Lithuanian railway network is relatively small.

Geography of Lithuania

Lithuania is located on the eastern coast of the B altic Sea, in the western part of Eurasia. The length of the coastline is 99 km. The terrain is flat, covered with forests and fields. The climate is moderately humid, mild, with cool winters and warm summers.

Lithuanian economy

The Lithuanian economy can be called quite successful. Market relations are actively developing here. The inflation rate in the country is low (about 1.2%). Euro is used as the national currency.

Lithuania has few natural resources of its own and underdeveloped industry and energy. There is a deficit in the balance of services. But, thanks to being a member of the EU, the country can develop in these conditions. 4/5 of Lithuania's GDP comes from exports and imports.

Transport system

Lithuania has developed rail, air and water transport. Air transport is represented by four international airports: Kaunas, Vilnius, Siauliai and Palanga.

Marine transport is represented by the port of Klaipeda, which connects Lithuania with most major cities on the B altic Sea.

Lithuanian railway transport

The railway network was inherited by Lithuania from the former Soviet Union. It has a wider gauge than in Western European countries (1520 mm versus 1435 mm).

The most significant event in the history of the country's railway transport was the launch of the Viking project, which, in addition to Lithuania, also involves Ukraine and Belarus. Such a railway connection made it possible to connect the ports of the B altic, Black, Mediterranean and Caspian Seas.

The Lithuanian section of the Pan-European railroad Rail B altica is now under construction. And the most important in the country's railway system is the section of the Vilnius-Klaipeda railway.

Feature of the Lithuanian railway system

Lithuania has a railway network with a total length of 1950 kilometers. The wide Soviet gauge covers 1,749 kilometers. Moreover, only 122 km of track has been electrified. Much less widespread is the European type of railways and narrow gauge railways.

Railway transport is managed by the representative office of JSC "Lithuanian Railways" Lietuvos Geležinkeliai. The main focus is on the transportation of passengers. However, the company hopes to maintain the transportation of goods via the Lithuanian Railway, despite competition from the Russian railway transport.

Due to the small area, suburban rail connections predominate. There are 4 depots:

• locomotives LT-1 Vilnius, LT2 Radviliskis,
• motor-car Naujoji-Vilnia,
• narrow gauge Panevezys.

The latter serves only tourist and seasonal suburban trains of the Aukštaiti narrow-gauge railway. Such trains run in summer.

LT-1 train depot Vilnius

Depot LT-1 Vilnius serves both mainline diesel locomotives and diesel trains and rail buses. Diesel trains are represented by single-car and three-car trains, as well as Soviet-style analogues, obviously older. Both of them are painted in red-gray tones. Among the new compositions there are also Russian-made products.

There are 10 Soviet-type diesel trains, 4 new Russian RA2 trains. There are also 7 recently purchased three-car trains730ML.

Radviliškis train depot LT-2 consists of only two suburban trains 620M.

Naujoji-Vilnia Train Depot Park

From the compositions of the new sample, the fleet includes 11 pieces of EJ575. Also, old Soviet electric trains ER9M are assigned to this depot. Gradually they are replaced with new ones, and one has become a museum exhibit. Some of them will probably be handed over to Ukraine. The coloring of all trains is also red and gray.

Total rail transport units

In total, 15 single-car 620M rail buses, 4 RA2 rail buses, seven 730 ML three-car trains, 11 EJ575 double-decker trains, 10 DR1A diesel trains and 2 ER9M Soviet electric trains run in Lithuania.

Comfort level

Russians who traveled on the new diesel trains in Lithuania write about the high level of convenience and comfort in the cars. Very comfortable seating spaced well apart, folding tables, clean bathrooms, coffee maker and working internet.

The movement of the train is smooth and quiet, the buildup of cars is not felt.

First class carriages are even more spacious, tables are larger. They serve sandwiches, water, tea.

Conclusion

Thus, Lithuanian railways offer many opportunities for passenger transportation. Suburban rail traffic predominates. mainpart of the transportation is carried out by diesel trains. Some of them are characterized by increased comfort and convenience. There are also modernized Soviet-made trains.

In neighboring Latvia, an annual tournament for the Latvian Railway Cup in hockey is held. Lithuanian railways do not hold such events.