Eiffage, Budimex, and Rizzani de Eccher have triumphed in a consortium bid, securing the contract for the civil engineering and track-laying works for the 230-kilometer Latvian section of the ambitious Rail Baltica project. The ERB Rail joint venture, spearheaded by Eiffage Génie Civil, a subsidiary of Ferrovial’s Budimex, and Rizzani de Eccher, is set to play a pivotal role in integrating the Baltic States into the broader European rail network, creating a vital connection between Helsinki and Warsaw.
This significant contract, valued at approximately €3.7 billion, was awarded by Eiropas Dzelzcela Linijas (EDZL), the national implementing body of Rail Baltica in Latvia, acting on behalf of the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Latvia. Coordination of this priority project for the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) is managed by the public company RB RAIL AS, representing Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
The comprehensive contract encompasses the construction of 175 engineering structures and 11 animal crossings. Financial support for this venture is structured with 85% provided by the European fund Connecting Europe Facility, and the remaining 15% contributed by the Republic of Latvia.
Beyond its infrastructural significance, the Rail Baltica high-speed line is poised to contribute to the development of a unified European market. It aims to achieve this by fostering trade through the seamless interoperability of diverse transport networks, including land, river, and air. Additionally, the project aligns with environmental goals, promoting the use of the most sustainable modes of transport.
The designated section, won by ERB Rail, is designed for passenger trains to travel at 249 km/h and freight trains at 120 km/h. The mobilization of the work team is scheduled for the first semester of 2024, following the notice to proceed for the initial 13-kilometer section, which has secured financing up to €165 million.
