State-owned enterprise "Lithuanian railways", which previously intended to create a chain of food shops in stations itself, and because of this there was outrage in the public space, is changing its position - the company will look for private partners who will offer passengers fresh and high-quality food.
"Lietuvos geležinkeliai" announced that they will invite market participants to discussions, and later will announce a tender to select one or more operators of the power supply network.
"We are aiming for a railway the station become centers of attraction. We see potential in the market to help revive the stations. We will strive for this potential to be used effectively," said Mantas Bartuška, CEO of Lietuvos geležinkėliau, in a statement.
In the near future, the concept of power supply in stations and trains will be developed. The company claims to have already conducted a study on additional services requested by passengers. Linas Baužys, head of the Passenger Transport Directorate of "Lietuvos Geležinkėlių", said that in addition to food outlets, other goods or service businesses could also be established in the stations.
In January, the company said that it intends to sell food at the stations itself. After that, there was an outcry in the public space that this activity should be left to private business and not to a state-run company.
President of the Lithuanian Free Market Institute Žilvinas Šilėnas told BNS that "Lietuvos Geležinkeliai" should not engage in retail trade. According to him, it is a bad precedent when the company concentrates not on the main, but on secondary activities. The president of the business confederation, Valdas Sutkus, said that seeing the need for such shops, it would be more appropriate to rent premises to private businesses.
