Rail Baltica: LTG Infra Blocked Again from Signing €100M Signalling Contract After Alstom Challenge

A Lithuanian court has once again halted LTG Infra from finalizing a contract exceeding €100 million with Fima and Czech company AŽD Praha. This contract pertains to the modernisation of signalling systems for the Rail Baltica project.

The legal challenge was initiated by Alstom, which contends that the procurement process was not conducted fairly. Alstom’s objections focus on the evaluation criteria used to select the winning bid, alleging that it favored Fima and AŽD Praha.

This is not the first time LTG Infra has faced legal obstacles regarding this contract. The initial court ruling, issued in September 2023, temporarily suspended the signing of the contract pending further review of the procurement process.

The Rail Baltica project aims to enhance rail connectivity between the Baltic States and the rest of Europe, with a focus on improving passenger and freight transport efficiency. The signalling modernisation is a critical component of this initiative, expected to increase safety and operational reliability.

LTG Infra, a subsidiary of the Lithuanian Railways, has expressed its commitment to resolving the legal issues swiftly to avoid delays in the project timeline. The company has stated that it will comply with the court’s decision while continuing to work on other aspects of the Rail Baltica project.

As of now, the timeline for the signalling modernisation remains uncertain, pending the outcome of the legal proceedings. Stakeholders in the Rail Baltica project are closely monitoring the situation, as further delays could impact the overall schedule and budget of the initiative.

In summary, the ongoing legal dispute highlights the complexities involved in large-scale infrastructure projects, particularly in the rail sector, where procurement processes are subject to scrutiny and potential challenges from competitors.

source: railtech.com