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A new railhead of Pabradė-Pažeimenė railway line of national importance has been completed in May, it will improve conditions for deploying military vehicles and equipment of NATO allies to the General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area of the Lithuanian Armed Forces near Pabradė (Švenčionys region, Eastern part of Lithuania). On May 29 the newly opened transportation capability was tested out by the outgoing U.S. rotation deploying home from Lithuania.
Part of the railway infrastructure in the 51st kilometre of the Naujoji Vilnia–Turmantas–Latvian border line was refurbished, roughly a kilometre worth of a new section was railed, new electricity, communications, signal, and traffic control systems were installed as a result of the completed constructions.
“This is a strategic project for our country, it will significantly facilitate deployment of allied troops and equipment to Lithuania and create better conditions for the constant military movement between the training areas in Rukla and Pabradė. Swift and effective deployment of allied forces to the territory of Lithuania strengthens our security, therefore improvement of military mobility and support rendered by Lithuania as the host nation remains among the top priorities of the national defence system,” Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis says.
Minister also underlined the close cooperation between the Lithuanian and the U.S. forces. “U.S. military presence in Lithuania is our strongest security assurance. The Lithuanian Armed Forces is improving training area and military mobility infrastructure with the intent to create conditions for allied forces to deploy and train in Lithuania,” the Minister said.
“Lithuania has been a kind and generous host to the soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 9th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, and for that we are grateful. Our combined training exercises over the recent months have demonstrated beyond doubt that we are strong partners and we are ready and able to defend. This railhead will further enhance military mobility within Lithuania, facilitate future troop movements to the Pabrade Training Area, and reduce safety concerns for both troops and Lithuanian citizens,” U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania HE Robert S. Gilchrist said at the event.
Mantas Bartuška, CEO of Lietuvos Geležinkeliai, pointed out that the new railhead was only a detail in a larger military mobility map that was about to change significantly in 2020. “When this project and reconstruction in Kaunas railway node, the latter of which will fully integrate Kaunas into the European Union railway system via Rail Baltica, are completed, Lietuvos Geležinkeliai will become an even more important part of the Lithuanian national security system. It will become possible to reload NATO units with heavy equipment not only at Šeštokai, they will be able to travel straight to Kaunas and then to Pažeimenė for exercise, or another location in Lithuania, as necessary,” M. Bartuška said.
Infrastructure constructions are planned to be continued by installing a ramp and a platform by the railhead. It will allow allied forces to transport heavy equipment to the training area by railway, thus preserving roads and not inconveniencing residents of the towns surrounding the training area.
The railway segment will only be used partly for loading vehicles until the stationary ramp and platform are built and equipped. Other types of cargo would be loaded at the Pabradė Railway Station and trains would be connected according to their further route within or outside the territory of Lithuania.
The railhead holds special significance as it creates the possibility to transport heavy military and other equipment of Lithuanian and allied forces from the General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area by railroad directly through Pažeimenė. It will preserve streets in Pabradė, improve the quality of life for local residents, take the load and related traffic restrictions off the roads. Before the stationary ramp and platform are ready, military cargo is planned to be transported by railroad, vehicles will be loaded at Pežeimenė and other cargo – at the Pabradė Station where the trains could be connected together and continue the travel to, for instance, Klaipėda.
The project was implemented by the Ministry of National Defence, Ministry of Transport and Communications, and Lietuvos Geležinkeliai AB, in accordance with the 2019 Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania on Constructions of Public Infrastructure Objects.
The total worth of the railway segment construction project is 2.2 million euros, 2.1 million was allocated by the Ministry of National Defence, the remaining part of the sum for the railway crossing reconstruction was paid by Lietuvos Geležinkeliai Group.
Construction of the railhead is a part of a larger project aimed at providing the NATO force redeployment capability. Several concurrent projects in Pažeimenė, like laying an access road, constructions of a railway ramp and platform for loading and temporary storage of vehicles and equipment, also back up the infrastructure for NATO deployments at Pabradė. The said projects are currently in a design phase, installation is planned to be done by 2022.
Photo credits: Giedrė Maksimovicz/MoD
