At the beginning of June, members of the Rail Baltica Business Network gathered for their annual general meeting. In addition to approving the customary annual report, it was a great opportunity to catch up on the latest project developments and member updates.
The meeting was hosted by Mainor Ülemiste and its Chairman of the Board Sten Pärnits presented the business campus’s ambitious future plans. Anvar Salomets, Chairman of the Board at Rail Baltic Estonia, gave an overview of the project’s renewed cost-benefit analysis and its key findings.
According to the study, once Phase I of Rail Baltica is completed, the expected annual passenger volume will be approximately 2.8 million – comparable to the current usage of the Tallinn–Tartu rail line. Across the entire Rail Baltica route, the annual freight volume is estimated at 9 million tonnes, with Estonia’s share projected at 3–4 million tonnes. This is largely thanks to the Muuga terminal—the only cargo station on the entire route connected directly to a seaport.
The cost-benefit analysis indicates that, considering the socio-economic benefits, the investment in the railway will pay off in about 16 years. The most significant positive impacts in passenger transport come from time savings and improved traffic safety.
During the meeting, members were also given a preview of a planned study trip to Poland in October.
