A contract for the electrification of the Rail Baltica line has been signed with a joint venture between Cobra Instalaciones y Servicios and Elecnor Servicios y Proyectos, operating under the name COBELEC Rail Baltica. The deal was formally concluded during a signing ceremony held on 15 September 2025 in Vilnius.
The total value of the contract is EUR 1.77 billion. The first phase, with an allocated budget of EUR 949 million, is due for completion by 2030. The project includes the full deployment of the Rail Baltica Energy (ENE) subsystem across all three Baltic states.
According to the technical scope, the electrification will cover 870 km of railway and 2,403 km of track in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The project will implement a 2x25kV electrification system with ten traction substations and the large-scale use of Static Frequency Converter (SFC) technology. The approach is intended to support long-term operational efficiency, environmental compliance, and integration with the 50 Hz European power grid.
The signing follows a procurement process launched in May 2022. Four international consortia submitted proposals, and three were shortlisted in 2023. COBELEC Rail Baltica was selected based on its proposed technical solution, cost structure, and the capacity to meet sustainability objectives. The contract was formally launched via an electronic signature on 31 July 2025.
The electrification works will proceed in parallel with broader construction activities along the Rail Baltica corridor. In Estonia, over 100 km of railway substructure is in progress, including work at the Ülemiste Terminal. In Latvia, construction near Iecava is underway as part of a 230 km framework agreement, with further developments at Riga Central Hub and the airport. In Lithuania, 77 km of works are advancing on the Kaunas–Panevėžys section. By the end of 2025, this section is expected to cover 114 km and include the construction of a bridge over the Neris River, set to be the longest in the country.
