Vingris, the chairman of EDzL responsible for the construction of “Rail Baltica”, resigns

Kaspars Vingris, the chairman of the management board of SIA “Eiropas dželžas lījas” (EDzL), which is responsible for the construction of the railway project “Rail Baltica” on the territory of Latvia, has resigned, representatives of EDzL informed.

He submitted a notice of resignation to the EDzL shareholder – the Ministry of Transport – due to personal reasons.

Vingris has managed the company for almost five years, but has worked in the project for a total of ten years.

Vingris has worked in the implementation of the “Rail Baltica” project since 2014, when he started working in the Railway Department of the Ministry of Transport and was the manager of the “Rail Baltica” national research project. In 2016, he continued his work as the director of the Project Implementation Department of EDzL, but in 2019 he was approved as the chairman of the company’s board.

It has already been reported that the “Rail Baltica” project, which has recently come to light with problems with meeting deadlines and obtaining funding, envisages the creation of a European standard gauge railway line from Tallinn to the border of Lithuania and Poland, so that it will be possible to connect the Baltic states with other European countries by rail. countries. In the Baltic States, it is planned to build a new 870-kilometer long European railway line with a gauge of 1,435 millimeters with a maximum train speed of 240 kilometers per hour.

Initially, it was expected that the costs of “Rail Baltica” would reach 5.8 billion euros, but the parties involved have repeatedly stated that they have significantly increased. Part of the costs will be covered by the funds of the European Union. The railway line “Rail Baltica” is planned to be opened sequentially in stages between 2028 and 2030.

In last year’s activity report, the State Security Service (VDD) emphasized that, despite the existing complications, further delays in the construction of the “Rail Baltica” infrastructure are unacceptable and that the project requires targeted risk management.

It was also reported that EDzL’s turnover last year, according to preliminary data, was 6.398 million euros, which is 64% more than in 2022, while the company’s losses increased to 195,783 euros.

EDzL is a capital company fully owned by the state, and its share capital is 4.445 million euros.

Kaspars Vingris. Photo: Paula Churkste/LETA