Latvia's new government: Rail Baltic will not launch by 2030

Latvia's new government ministers have acknowledged that Rail Baltic high-speed trains will not be running through the country by 2030. The government has just four months before parliamentary elections to decide which Rail Baltic variant is financially viable for Latvia.

Latvia's new government ministers have jointly acknowledged that the ambitious deadline – Rail Baltic high-speed trains running through the country by 2030 – is not achievable. This gives official confirmation to what critics of the railway project have been claiming for some time.

The government intends to clarify two key questions over the next four months, which remain before parliamentary elections: which Rail Baltic variant is financially viable for Latvia, and what kind of railway the country actually needs. This is essentially a comprehensive review of the entire project, which could mean reducing its scope as well as setting new priorities.

Rail Baltic is a planned high-speed railway infrastructure between the Baltic states and Poland, which is intended to connect Tallinn to Warsaw via Riga and Vilnius. The project has become increasingly expensive over the years, and its financing and schedule have created tensions in all three Baltic states. Latvia's decision to reassess the project could have an impact on Estonia and Lithuania's plans as well.