Lithuania - General Information
Country Name
Lithuania (Lietuva)
National Railway System
The national railway AB Lietuvos Geležinkeliai is a state-owned holding company with stand-alone passenger, freight and infrastructure businesses. However, access to its website is at present blocked to users in some (non EU) countries.
The passenger business LG Keleiviams was formally registered on 28 February 2019 and has taken over the Passenger Transport Directorate (Keleivių Vežimo Direkcia) division of Lietuvos Geležinkeliai. However, access to its website is also blocked to users in some (non EU) countries.
National Railway Operator
LTG Link operates passenger services in Lithuania
Language
Lithuanian.
Currency
Euro
UIC code
numeric 24; alpha LT
Timetable
Journey Planner
Downloadable Timetable
No downloadable timetables are available.
Printed Timetable
A printed timetable is produced, but appears to be for staff use only. Travel centres such as the one at Vilnius offer individual timetables on photocopied sheets.
Engineering Information
This information is no longer available.
Bus Information
autobusubilietai.lt provides a journey planner for buses in Lithuania and elsewhere in Europe.
Lux Express operates coach routes in the Baltic region.
Maps
Printed Maps
- European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition) by M.G. Ball.
- European Railway Atlas (Regional Series - Baltic States, Belarus and Ukraine) by M.G. Ball.
- Mapa Kolejowa Litwy, Łotwy i Estonii (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) by W. Kolondra.
- Railway Map of Latvia, Lithuania and Russia (Kaliningrad Region) by Quail Map Company.
Web-based Maps
- Annex 5 of the 2017-2018 Network Statement
- Map of the Baltic States dated July 2023 - on the Railroad Maps site.
- Maps and Plans - Lithuania.
Ticketing
There are no known network tickets, but fares are cheap.
Tickets can be purchased on the LTG-Link website including for International travel to Riga. From 4 November 2024, a service fee of 2 EUR is levied when buying tickets on the train, except for pensioners, children and on Vilnius Airport - Vilnius local services.
Infrastructure
Infrastructure Authority
AB LTG Infra is responsible for the infrastructure. However, access to its website is blocked to users in some (non EU) countries.
Network Statement
The latest Network Statements are contained in the Network Statements section.
Gauge
"Russian" gauge (1520 mm) except for
- "Rail Baltica": Trakiszki (Polish border) - Šeštokai - Kaunas - Palemonas (and eventually onwards to the Latvian Border via Panevėžys) (standard gauge; 1435 mm). Rail Baltica is mixed gauge between Mockava and Šeštokai, then parallel to the 1520 mm gauge line between Šeštokai and Palemonas, except for mixed gauge through the tunnel east of Kaunas. The Kaunas avoider appears to have a separate SG track laid only as far as the Russian Gauge loop at Rokeliu.
- Panevėžys - Rubikiai (750mm).
Electrification
25kV 50 Hz
Rule of the road
Most lines are single track, but on double track sections right hand running applies.
Distances
The Current Network Statement gives overall distances for lines in Annex 2.
Other Railways
None.
Tourist Lines
The Panevėžys - Rubikiai 750mm gauge railway.
Metro
None.
Trams/LRT-Systems
None.
Recent and Future Changes
Future Changes
In June 2024 the EU Council of Ministers approved the construction of a standard gauge line to Klaipeda as part of the revised TEN-T network. The proposed route has yet be confirmed but may not follow either existing line to Klaipeda.
A Polish railway press article in late December 2022 stated that a through standard gauge service to Kaunas, operated by PKP, was planned from the 2023/24 timetable change but this did not commence, a change of train [and gauge] is still required at Mockava.
Because of rising costs, the EU wishes to prioritise the “core” of the Rail Baltica project, namely Warszawa - Tallinn. Lithuania wishes to construct a standard gauge line from Kaunas to Vilnius but the current status and funding of this option is unclear.
The Ministry of Transport selected option 6A in May 2022 as its preferred route for the section of Rail Baltica between the Polish border and Kaunas (Jiesia). This is a 'greenfield' route bypassing Marijampolė, Kazlų Rūda and Kalvarija but allegedly the existing and previously used by passenger services 1435 mm gauge line would continue in use as it is important for military purposes, providing access to the Kazlų Rūda training area.
An EU funding agreement to cover 85% of the costs of building the line from Kaunas to the Latvian border (part of the Rail Baltica II project) was signed on November 18 2016 and a Press announcement in May 2021 advised all necessary land had been acquired. In total Rail Baltica will involve 392km of new railway in Lithuania. An October 2021 Press Release advised of delays in Estonia resulting in an estimated completion through to Tallinn in 2030 without mentioning progress and if earlier openings further south are anticipated. It is believed the lines are to be double track and electrified throughout.
Recent Changes (latest developments at top)
Changes in 2023
A service from Vilnius via Šiauliai and the cross border line to Jelgava and Riga in Latvia resumed on 27 December.
Changes in 2022
A pair of PKP IC trains were extended across the border daily to Mockava from 11 December, with through ticketing onto a guaranteed DMU connection with a LG Mockava - Kaunas - Vilnius service. This restored a passenger service on the broad gauge rails between Šeštokai and Kazlu Ruda. [Mockava - Šeštokai is interlaced mixed gauge.] The limited Białystok (PL) - Kaunas standard gauge FSSuO service was withdrawn from the same date, resulting in no service on the interlaced standard gauge rails between Mockava and Šeštokai, or the separate and parallel standard gauge track from Šeštokai to Kaunas.
The through Białystok (PL) – Kaunas service resumed after Covid on 1 July, but with a less frequent basis tahn previously.
On 1 July, the (Radviliškis -) Panevėžys - Rokiškis line was closed ‘temporarily’ because of low passenger numbers and a lack of spare parts, caused by the war in Ukraine. Rokiškis no longer appeared as an option in the Journey planner drop down boxes but services have resumed to Panevėžys.
On 2 February the government approved the electrification of the 309 km Kaišiadorys – Klaipėda – Draugystės (the port branch south of Klaipėda station) route. €197m of the €398m cost will come from the EU Cohesion Fund.
Changes in 2021
The Kaunas Intermodal Terminal at Palemonas opened to commercial traffic on 19 July, when a train arrived from Tilburg in the Netherlands. This is reached via dual gauge track laid beyond Kaunas station to Palemonas in October 2020; a separate SG track has been laid only as far as the Russian Gauge loop at Rokeliu on the Kaunas avoiding line.
Older Changes
For details of older changes see Lithuania - Older General Information.
Special notes
None.
