Getting Around

Rail Baltica: What the New Rail Line Means for Travelers

What Rail Baltica actually is, its current construction status, and what it means for getting around the Baltic States today.

Last updated September 2026

A modern rail line under construction through open Baltic countryside
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Rail Baltica is a new electrified railway being built through Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. It will link Tallinn, Pärnu, Riga, Panevėžys, Kaunas and Vilnius, and continue toward Warsaw. It is still under construction, with no published opening date. Travelers today use buses and the existing trains between the capitals.

Rail Baltica is a new line under construction, not open yet. It uses the European standard gauge of 1,435 mm, unlike the wider 1,520 mm track the Baltic network uses now. It will run alongside the old railway, not replace it. For a trip now, take the bus or today's trains between the capitals.

What Rail Baltica is

It is a fully electrified railway on a new route. According to the official Rail Baltica project site, it will connect Helsinki (by sea), Tallinn, Pärnu, Riga, Panevėžys, Kaunas, Vilnius and Warsaw. The idea is simple. Trains will be able to run from the Baltic capitals straight into the rest of the EU rail network.

The key is the track width. The existing Baltic railways were built to the 1,520 mm gauge used in Russia and the former Soviet Union. That is wider than the 1,435 mm standard gauge used in Poland and most of Europe. Trains cannot cross from one system to the other without changing wheels or passengers changing trains.

Does the new line replace the old one?

No. Rail Baltica is a separate, parallel line on its own new route. The old 1,520 mm network stays in use, including for today's passenger trains. So when the new line opens, travelers will have a new, faster option, while the old routes keep running.

The planned route

The main line runs north to south. It starts in Tallinn, where a terminal is planned at Ülemiste near Tallinn Airport. It then runs down the west side of Estonia through Pärnu. In Latvia it passes through Riga, with a station planned at Riga Airport too. In Lithuania it continues through Panevėžys to Kaunas, with a link to Vilnius, and on south toward the Polish border.

Current construction status

Construction is under way in all three countries. The official project site describes large-scale embankment work across the Baltic states. Different sections are at different stages, and the project has not published a firm date for passenger trains on the whole line. Check the project's news pages for the latest status rather than an older article.

How to travel between the capitals today

You do not need to wait for the new line. Two options work well now.

  • Bus: Coaches link Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius several times a day. This is still the most common choice for travelers.
  • Train on the existing network: Since January 2025, a coordinated rail link has run from Tallinn via Tartu and Valga to Riga and Vilnius. You change trains at Valga on the Estonia-Latvia border. The Estonian operator Elron and the Lithuanian operator LTG Link publish the current timetables.

See the getting around guide for how these compare with flights, ferries and car hire. The trip to Baltic countries itinerary shows how the legs fit into a week.

Funding and timeline factors

The project is funded jointly by the European Union and the three Baltic governments, with EU funding covering a large share. Budget cycles and approval steps differ in each country. That is one reason sections move at different speeds, and why no single opening date covers the whole line.

Benefits once the line opens

Once open, the line should cut travel times between the capitals compared with today's trains. It will also allow direct trains toward Poland without a change of gauge. The project is designed to carry freight as well as passengers. That matters for the regional economy, even if it does not affect a typical vacation.

Should your trip plan around the new line?

Most travelers can ignore it for now. There is nothing to book yet. Plan with buses, today's trains, or a car, and check the official site again only if your trip is years away.

What's new for Rail Baltica in 2026

Work continued across all three countries through 2026, and no passenger service has opened on the new line. Meanwhile, the existing network has improved for travelers. The Tallinn to Riga and Vilnius rail link that started in January 2025 added more departures in 2026, which the operators list on their own sites.

For the new line itself, the main thing to watch is the order in which sections open. Each country is building its own part, and some stretches may be finished long before the full route. Even then, passenger trains need stations, signalling and rolling stock in place, not just track. Treat any single opening year you see quoted online with care, and rely on the project's own announcements.

Planning a trip around today's transport options is easier with a printable outline. Get the free Baltic Trip Planner below.

Verdict on Rail Baltica

Rail Baltica is a new standard-gauge railway that will link Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius with the wider EU network. It runs next to the old wider-gauge railway rather than replacing it, and it is not open yet. For a trip now, use buses or the current trains, and check the official project site for opening news.

Questions people also ask

Is Rail Baltica running yet?

No. It is still under construction, and the project has not published an opening date for passenger service. Today you can travel between the capitals by bus, or by train on the existing network.

What will the new line change once complete?

A new standard-gauge line will connect Tallinn, Pärnu, Riga, Panevėžys, Kaunas and Vilnius, and link south toward Warsaw. It will make direct trains to the rest of the EU rail network possible.

What gauge will the new line use?

The European standard gauge of 1,435 mm. The existing Baltic network uses the wider 1,520 mm gauge inherited from the Russian and Soviet system.

Should I wait for Rail Baltica before planning a trip?

No. Buses and the current trains already link the three capitals. The new line is a long-term project, not a near-term option.

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