Rail Baltica billion euro procurement: Five leading consortia advance to the next round
Rail Baltica has advanced to the first stage of alliance procurement for Estonia's section of the main railway line, connecting Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to Europe.
This procurement, valued at nearly one billion euros, will determine who will complete the design and construction of the mainline between Ülemiste–Pärnu and Pärnu–the Latvian border in the next stages.
The five shortlisted consortia are:
- Bouygues Travaux Public, Budimex S.A., Ingérop Conseil et Ingénierie, KMG Infra OÜ, and WSP Finland Oy.
- GRK Eesti AS, GRK Suomi Oy, AS Merko Ehitus Eesti, NGE Contracting, Sweco Finland Oy, and Sweco Sverige AB.
- Leonhard Weiss OÜ, INF Infra OÜ, Leonhard Weiss GmbH & Co. KG, Ramboll Danmark A/S, and Skepast & Puhkim OÜ.
- Verston Eesti OÜ, GoTrack OÜ, Järelpinge Inseneribüroo OÜ, and Reaalprojekt OÜ.
- VINCI Construction GeoInfrastructure, AS TREV-2 Grupp, Dodin Campenon Bernard, and SYSTRA S.A.
During the first stage, candidates were evaluated based on diverse criteria, including technical and financial capabilities and prior experience. All five consortia met stringent qualification requirements. The next steps involve submitting initial proposals, contract negotiations, development workshops, and final proposal submissions. The aim is to sign two contracts in the first half of 2025.
The total value of the alliance procurement could reach up to 932 million euros, including the option for strategic material procurement:
- Mainline contract 1: Covers the railway superstructure of the Ülemiste–Pärnu section and the substructure of the Tootsi–Pärnu section. Estimated cost: 394 million euros.
- Mainline contract 2: Encompasses the full design and construction of the Pärnu–Ikla section. Estimated cost: 332 million euros.
Why is this important?
Rail Baltica is not just a railway, it is a geopolitical project that will integrate the region more closely with Central and Western Europe. The 870-kilometer railway, built to a unified standard gauge, will allow speeds of up to 249 km/h, making the Baltic states more attractive for trade and tourism.
Collaboration with international leaders does not only ensure the project’s success but also creates unique opportunities for local companies to participate in large-scale infrastructure projects. This experience and the references gained will help Estonian companies enhance their competitiveness and open doors to international markets where such projects are increasingly in demand. Furthermore, collaboration at an international level and the application of advanced technologies will contribute to local competence and innovation.
The construction of the mainline in Estonia is funded by the European Union and the Estonian state budget. The selected alliances will be responsible for completing the mainline between Ülemiste and the Latvian border.
www.railbaltica.com
