An exciting new rail line will connect six European countries, linking popular cities and giving tourists more opportunities to see more of the continent. Rail travel has been popular across Europe for many years. Many people use Europe’s widespread rail network to see more cities as part of a single trip. Interrailing passes are popular for people seeking cultural highlights in a number of countries in Europe. Rail is also a popular option for environmentally-conscious tourists, as it is greener than flying. 

Travellers will soon have more rail options with the construction of Rail Baltica currently underway. The impressive 540-mile rail line will stretch from Germany all the way up to Finland, starting at Berlin and stretching through Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and finishing in Helsinki, the capital of Finland. Along the way, travellers will pass through stops including Warsaw, Vilnius and Tallinn. The track is set to open by 2030 after several delays and issues pushed things back. 

According to Traffic Technology Today, the Rail Baltica has seen significant cost increases since it was first announced. Since 2021, costs surged 160% to €23.8 billion (around £20.7 billion), nearly four times initial projections.

However, the socio-economic benefits are estimated at €16.2 billion, according to a study produced by Ernst & Young. Plans for the rail line actually date back a few decades, as the idea was originally conceived at the three Pan-European Transport Conferences held in Prague (1991), Crete (1994) and Helsinki (1997).

The goal is to integrate the Baltic states into the main European rail line network, improving connectivity for both business and tourism. It will connect the cities of Helsinki, Tallinn, Pärnu, Riga, Panevėžys, Kaunas, Vilnius, and Warsaw, with the option for people to travel further on from Poland to the German capital, Berlin. 

According to project managers, it will cut journey times between these destinations by an average of 50%. It will also be a fully electric system. meaning it will produce much fewer carbon emissions than traditional rail. 

“Rail Baltica offers a fast, modern, and competitive alternative to existing transport modes,” the project’s official website states. “By significantly reducing travel times and opening routes not currently served by regional rail, it creates new, efficient connections across the region.

“Alongside speed, Rail Baltica also prioritises comfort, reliability, and accessibility, positioning itself as the preferred choice for travellers seeking a smarter way to move.”

Kalev Kallemets, PhD, CEO and co-founder of Fermi Energia AS, said the project is necessary and relatively inexpensive. He said: “Real-world proof shows that the new direct Tallinn–Tartu–Riga line opened in January has been very well received by passengers, even though the Tallinn–Riga journey still takes six hours.

“The fact is that Latvian tourists are very common in Pärnu, and there would certainly be even more Latvians in Estonia and Estonians in Latvia if the connection were faster.”

Meanwhile, Ernst & Young found several potential benefits of this new rail line, including €7.1 billion saved in climate change and noise reduction, 13,000 jobs created during construction, and 5.3 million passenger hours saved.