As Lithuania builds a military camp in Rūdninkai, necessary for a German military brigade, the Ministry of Transport and Communications is proposing to build a new 8,6-kilometer-long, 1520-millimeter-wide railway track in the section between Jašiūnai and Stasylai, in the Šalčininkai district.
"The German brigade's action plan sets the goal of deploying the majority of the brigade in Lithuania in 2025–2026, and achieving full operational capacity by the end of 2027. Therefore, in order to achieve full operational capacity, it is necessary to install the infrastructure specified in accordance with the requirements prepared by Germany (...) as soon as possible," the ministry writes in the draft government resolution.
Deputy Minister of National Defence Orijana Mašalė told BNS in an interview in February that the railway branch to the Rūdninkai training ground is one of the strategic directions important for military mobility, and would transport both military equipment and personnel. According to her, the project would cost around 60 million euros.
"Consultations are underway with both the Ministry of Transport and Communications and Lithuanian Railways on how we can do all this, because it is very important for the German brigade. The Germans, as we know, are used to rail transport," said O. Mašalė at the time.
According to the draft resolution, the training ground would have a railway line of about 1,6 km and a ramp for loading cargo or heavy military equipment and boarding soldiers of the German brigade.
At the same time, crossings would be installed on the Sližiūnai–Gerviškės–Narkuskės road and on Biržės Street near the village of Dainava, as well as culverts and, if necessary, signaling, communication and power supply facilities.
The project would be implemented by the Lithuanian Railway Infrastructure Company LTG Infra.
The ministry estimates that the construction of the railway line for public needs will require the acquisition of 10-12 agricultural plots or parts thereof, which are owned by private individuals or are on leased state land. Part of it would be built in an area where plots have not been formed.
Germany is committed to deploying a brigade of soldiers in Lithuania by the end of 2027. The initial element of the German brigade, responsible for planning the brigade's relocation, arrived in Lithuania last April. The number of German soldiers is expected to increase to 500 by the end of this year.
The Rūdninkai military town, which is important for the Bundeswehr forces, will be built approximately one and a half kilometers from the Rūdninkai settlement, and the project is expected to be implemented by 2027. It is expected that the European Investment Bank (EIB) will contribute financially to the construction of the town.
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) announced a tender for the construction of the second phase of the town's infrastructure and public services last week.
According to the Ministry of Defense's calculations, the state's financial obligations for the development of the Rūdninkai military town could reach about 1,8 billion euros (including VAT).
Author Lukas Juozapaitis
Editor Roma Pakėnienė
[email protected], Business News Section
