Study launched to find station transformation solutions for Rail Baltica

Design of Ülemiste Station

Rail Baltica Joint Venture RB Rail AS has signed a contract with an international consortium led by a Ramboll and consisting of Gottlieb Paludan Architects, Soini&Horto Architects, Realidea Ltd., Ardenis Consult, featuring a team of renowned Northern European infrastructure development experts and architects, to deliver recommendations to Rail Baltica on how to promote long-term value creation in and, in particular, around its seven international railway stations.

The study, supported by engagements with relevant key stakeholders, aims to generate a comprehensive set of recommendations on how to develop the Tallinn Ülemiste, Pärnu, Riga Central, Riga International Airport, Panevėžys, Kaunas and Vilnius stations, transforming multimodal connectivity and serving as important development engines in their immediate urban environments and beyond.

The study will build on international best practice benchmarking of some of the most successful European and global multimodal transport hubs to understand the key factors which drive the creation of socio-economic value across all key dimensions: spatial, functional, commercial, operational and governance – both inside the stations and in their immediate urban environments, as well as the wider mobility-oriented development ecosystem. The study shall also consider and analyse any existing development plans/initiatives, both public and private, in and around the station areas.

To mobilise all relevant stakeholders, the study will engage and gather input from numerous parties, including municipalities, public transport operators, traffic authorities, non-governmental and community organisations, and private commercial and real estate developers. 

Kaspars Briškens, Rail Baltica Joint Venture Head of Strategy and Development, said: “Many famous station (re)development projects – from Utrecht to Vienna, from Paris-Austerlitz to Helsinki-Pasila – have demonstrated that modern multimodal mobility needs can be put at the heart of ambitious transformational developments that reshape urban landscapes, improve liveability and unlock new long-term development catalysts, not least around the principles of sustainability and circular economy. Rail Baltica has seven such opportunities. We owe it to the next generations to capitalise on them.”

The final report is expected at the end of 2021.