Border Crossings: Lithuania - Poland

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Note that there is a one hour time difference between Lithuania and Poland

(Šeštokai -) Mockava LG - Trakiszki PKP (- Suwałki)

[D] The "Rail Baltica" standard gauge [1435 mm] track crosses the border with Broad gauge track [1520 mm] as far south as Mockava [LG], but is interlaced with the standard gauge from just south of Šeštokai. A limited weekend standard gauge passenger service between Białystok and Kaunas commenced on 17 June 2016, operated by PKP diesel units. However, the former interchange island platform at Šeštokai (one platform face for each gauge) had been demolished by this time so the PKP trains only started calling at Šeštokai from 6 October 2017 after a platform on the new standard gauge tracks on the west side of the station had been completed.

PKP had previously worked a daytime TLK service from Warszawa to the then limit of standard gauge track at Šeštokai until it was withdrawn on 15 December 2013 whilst the "Rail Baltica" work was underway. From 29 October 2000 to 28 May 2005 there was a through overnight passenger train between Warszawa and Vilnius. This had coaches with 25AN/S bogies equipped with 'SUW2000' variable gauge wheelsets and used gauge changing equipment at Mockava. This is now out of use and indeed is believed to have been removed. All transhipment of freight is performed at Šeštokai.

Standard gauge tracks currently reach Kaunas but in March 2019 Rail Baltica announced it proposed to run six daytime trains between Warszawa and either Tallinn or Vilnius, plus overnight Tallinn – Riga – Kaunas – Warszawa – Berlin and Vilnius – Kaunas – Warszawa – Berlin trains when the line opens in 2026.

See also