RB Rail AS awarded €23m electrification contract for Rail Baltica HSR project

Riga, Lativa (Urban Transport News): Rail Baltica Joint venture RB Rail AS has selected engineering service provider (ENE Engineer) for the Global project energy subsystem deployment. The association of DB Engineering & Consulting GmbH; IDOM Consulting, Engineering, Architecture, S.A.U.; Italferr S.p.A. was announced as the winner in an international tender floated by RB Rail AS. The value of the awarded contract, signed on 23 April, is 23.2 million euros.  

Marc-Philippe El Beze, Chief Technical Officer at RB Rail AS, said, “This is an important milestone for the Rail Baltica Global project. By signing the contract, we are starting the work on one of the most challenging railway electrification projects in Europe. With standard high-speed rail electrification projects ranging at about 300 km, Rail Baltica with its 870 km long line is unique. The deployment of the energy subsystem for the entire Rail Baltica Global line in a consolidated way will allow to fully ensure safety and interoperability requirements as well as maximise the benefits of economies of scale.”

ENE Engineer will start the work by performing several technical and economic studies necessary to prepare for the procurement of the electrification design and build tender. Further, during the implementation phase, ENE Engineer will be acting as FIDIC Engineer covering the design and construction supervision, testing and commissioning duties, till the end of the defect notification period.

Energy subsystem scope to be deployed for the entire Rail Baltica Global project covers the following key components: high voltage feeding lines for connection of traction power substations to the public high voltage electrical grids, traction power substations, overhead contact system, and energy control command system.

For a few years now and even before the European Green Deal, Rail Baltica project implementers have been discussing the environmental impact of the line, in particular regarding the energy used for the train traction.

“We are proud to have committed to using 100% of renewable energy to power Rail Baltica. This is a major step in our goal to build the Rail Baltica project as an environmentally sustainable infrastructure. Efficient use of renewable energy to power Rail Baltica is the key element that will make rail transport environmentally friendly and will provide an alternative to road and air transport in the Baltic States.  We look forward to cooperation with the Baltic states’ relevant institutions in achieving this ambitious goal,” said Jean-Marc Bedmar, in charge of Railway Systems and Operation at RB Rail AS.