European-Standard Railway Line between Vilnius and Kaunas

Abstract

The article studies the possibilities for the enhancement of railway communication between Lithuania’s two largest cities – Vilnius and Kaunas. Reviewing the political reasons and economic arguments behind the improvement of the transportation, it presents the theory of transport axle in the Vilnius-Kaunas dipole. Authors lay down arguments explaining why the transport axle should include a European-standard railway line like that of the Rail Baltica project. Two versions of building the European-standard railway line between Vilnius and Kaunas are proposed. Possibilities are discussed to modernize the existing railway line and adapt it to facilitate speeds for passenger train traffic up to 160 km/h. The article provides traction calculations, plans modernization works and calculates the investments required.