Travel Guide
New Train Will Connect 4 Of Europe’s Most Underrated Countries
Feb
After decades of empty promises, government after government, the long-anticipated, bordering-on-mythical Rail Baltica is finally leaving the drawing board.
As confirmed in a European Commission press release, the largest infrastructure project to have ever been pursued in the Baltic region—and Eastern Europe as a whole—is going ahead, significantly improving connectivity across a previously-fragmented 559-mile stretch.
Not to beat around the bush too much, we’re talking 4 of Europe’s most underrated countries that, in spite of being close neighbors, linked by a shared history and culture, have lacked efficient, direct train connections.
Soon enough, traveling from Estonia to Latvia to Lithuania to Poland will no longer entail a chaotic bus-to-train-to-bus-to-train shuffle: you’ll be able to ride straight from Tallinn, on the eastern edge of the Baltics, all the way to Warsaw, without changes.
STAY to the very end cause we’re about to give you the full rundown of Rail Baltica’s trendiest destinations
The Problem With Baltic Connectivity
For those among us who’ve already been to the Baltics—as in, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—you might have been gobsmacked to find out that, despite these countries’ less-than-impressive sizes, and their status as members of the European Union, railway links are… hem… subpar.
Although new trains have launched recently from Estonia to Latvia, linking major urban conurbations in both nations, those involve local, painfully slow rail services that aren’t exactly miles better than the well-established Lux buses.
Listen, I’m not a Lux bus hater myself. As far as European shuttles go, they’re top-tier compared to the bog-standard FlixBuses and BlaBlaCars: Wi-Fi is available throughout the journey, there are power plugs aplenty, seats are nice and cushy, and each seat is equipped with a touchscreen for entertainment.
With entire movie selections.
That said, I’m not gonna say it doesn’t sting a little to ponder whether it wouldn’t be smarter to invest on trains instead: a mere 180 miles separate Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, to Riga (its Latvia counterpart), and from the latter, it’s a similar 200 miles to Vilnius, in Lithuania.
Shockingly enough, buses take a jarring 3h40–4h30 to complete the journey. At times, it may even be slightly longer, especially if there are spot checks at the borders, which, as of late, have gotten increasingly common within the Schengen Area.
For comparison, Paris in France, and Brussels in Belgium are equally separated by a mere 190 miles, and high-speed trains bridge the short gap in just over an hour.
I love a good popcorn time myself, but between that—coupled with the terminally-boring, rainy, flat landscapes out the window—I’d go with a Eurostar-style train anytime.
Enters Rail Baltica
Well, Rail Baltica is the answer to all our post-Soviet prayers.
Not only will it service all three Baltic capitals, plus a few secondary stops, it will reach as far southwest as Warsaw, the capital of Poland.
Formerly a pipe dream for many, Rail Baltica is already in the construction phase.
This is when we get to the technical part of it, but I promise I won’t bore you to death: essentially, the primary goal is the replace the Baltics’ outdated—probably USSR-era infrastructure—with the standard EU track width of 1435 mm.
This has been a major impediment for trains to run smoothly between these borders, without the requirement to stop or change carriages.
Poland’s section is already considerably modern, though it will see a speed increase to a maximum of 155 mph, thanks to the implementation of the ERTMS L2 system. To the non-train geeks out there, this simply means standardization and better signaling system.
That said, the heavy work will be centered on the Baltic stretch.
When Will It Launch?
By the end of 2025, much of the planning will have been finalized, with construction already well underway in Poland and the Baltic trio. As of right now, several sections of track are being laid, and new stations are popping up on the planned route.
Design is largely finished, with the exception of the Elk-Trakisk section (a 50-mile line set to run from Poland to Lithuania). This is expected to be delivered by 2027.
In other excellent news, contruction is completed on the Warsaw-Białystok section, and workers are now moving on to the Białystok-Elk one. This should be finished by 2028.
Polish works are expected to be completed in 2030, alongside ‘phase I’ of the Baltic states.
Which Stops Are Confirmed?
Phase I involves the main north-south link, traversing the region, while Phase II will entail the addition of full double tracks, as well as Riga and Vilnius connections. These two cities are a bit out of the way, with Riga straddling the coast, and Vilnius in the very southeast of Lithuania, close to the Belarusian border.
Don’t worry, though, these are all perfectly low-risk NATO states.
To sum it up, half of the mainland design is finalized, with the remaining segments predicted to be completed by 2028/2029.
Which stops are confirmed?
- Warsaw, Poland
- Białystok, Poland
- Kaunas, Lithuania
- Vilnius, Lithuania
- Riga, Latvia
- Parnu, Estonia
- Tallinn, Estonia
Best Destinations On The Rail Baltica Line
Warsaw, Poland
The sprawling, modern capital of Poland, with a fascinating contrast between Old World charm and 21st-century disruptiveness, Warsaw is a must-see once Rail Baltica is in operation.
The post-WWII reconstructed Old Town has cobbled lanes, remnants of red-brick walls, a landmark Barbican, and a picturesque main square bordered by traditional eateries.
An iconic Stalin-era monument, the Palace of Culture and Science has the best skyline views in all of the city, and for those craving a taste of life in a fast-paced Polish metropolis, Śródmieście is a skyscraper-peppered district with wide boulevards and a big city attitude that, strangely enough, could easily belong in America.
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Vilnius, Lithuania
The postcard-ready capital of Lithuania, Vilnius exists in a different microcosm altogether than a loud, fast-developing Warsaw.
Its cobblestone streets look frozen in the 15th century, the beautifully frescoed Baroque churches leave nothing to be desired when compared with their mainstream European counterparts, and the striking red tower on a hill is storybook material.
My favorite thing about Vilnius, if you’re asking, is the self-proclaimed artists’ republic of Užupis:
Filled with colorful murals and laid-back Lithuanian pubs, it has its own set of mock laws. I’ve seen a Užupis ‘national’ ever enforcing these, but apparently, ‘everyone has the right to be happy’, and ‘everyone has the right to love and take care of a cat’.
‘The dog also has the right to be a dog.’ Mind-blowing! Could we get some of that same clear-cut, no-BS, zero-nonsense thinking out here in the Wild West?
Riga, Latvia
With a plethora of UNESCO-protected medieval buildings to its name, and a labyrinthine Historic Center lined with vividly-colored townhouses, Riga is that fairytale European city without the crowds.
Dominating the main square, the House of the Black Heads is a total showpiece: red, ornate, and medieval-pretty. Nearby, Riga Cathedral is the largest medieval church in the Baltics, home to a monumental organ, and let’s not forget the Central Market:
The coolest spot to hit up in Riga, it’s a giant, Soviet-style market hall inside a deactivated Zepellin hangar, yet some may argue the absolute bucket list highlight is Albert iela, the capital’s Art Nouveau masterpiece.
Tallinn, Estonia
The most beautiful destination on this railway—yep, I’m being unabashedly biased—Tallinn is a walled medieval settlement on the shores of the Baltic Sea that looks like it’s been copied and pasted straight ouf of a Disney sketchbook.
Seriously.
Conical towers linked by ramparts, winding lanes paved with cobbles, medieval-themed pubs that dish out 15th-century-esque fare, and an intact Gothic Town Hall built as far back as 1404. Europe’s oldest, at that!
For the hippy nightlife and edgy feel you simply won’t find in an open-air museum, take a tram out to Telliskivi, dubbed the ‘Creative City’: a mahoosive industrial complex turned indie playground, it is littered with thought-provoking murals, cool design studios, concept late-night bars, and even co-working spaces.
Digital nomads, this is your cue.
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