Rail Baltica secures first framework agreements for cable protection materials
Deals with Höhle OÜ and Pipelife Eesti AS mark a major milestone in delivering essential infrastructure for the Baltic high-speed railway project.
www.railbaltica.org
The first framework agreements for the consolidated supply of multi-ducts and cable-ducts for Rail Baltica have officially entered into force, marking a key milestone in delivering essential construction materials for the cross-border high-speed railway. Signed with Höhle OÜ for multi-ducts and Pipelife Eesti AS for cable-ducts, the agreements establish close cooperation to ensure that all materials meet the highest safety and engineering standards.
“These agreements mark more than just a procedural milestone – they show that our suppliers are ready to deliver at scale,” said Marko Kivila, CEO at RB Rail AS. “It guarantees that all materials fit into the railway system and meet strict safety and reliability standards.”
Rail Baltica is being built as a safety-critical system integrating track, signalling, power, rolling stock, and other components. By applying systems engineering principles from the outset, the project ensures that all materials and systems meet the highest standards of safety, performance, and reliability.
A framework agreement is a long-term arrangement between the three Baltic states and a supplier that defines the general terms for future purchases such as pricing, quality, and delivery, but does not create any financial obligations on its own. Instead, it serves as a flexible mechanism allowing each party to procure the needed quantities efficiently under an existing, pre-approved framework.
“It is great to see that the construction of Rail Baltica is creating opportunities for local manufacturers and service providers,” said Rail Baltica Estonia CEO Anvar Salomets. “Estonian companies are highly competitive internationally – these contracts show that our industry has all the prerequisites to contribute to large cross-border projects. Each such contract means jobs for Estonian companies, tax revenue for municipalities, and a direct economic impact on the regions through which the high-speed railway passes.”
The remaining consolidated procurements have been completed, and the final decisions by the national stakeholders are currently under consideration. The total value of these agreements amounts to €1.13 billion. This represents the maximum estimated contract value, including the cost of superstructure materials for the full scope of the Rail Baltica project.
The next material groups planned for framework agreements include key superstructure components such as sleepers with fastening systems and under sleeper pads, rails, railway ballast, turnouts, and rail expansion joints. Additional local manufacturers are also preparing to join the supply chain, further strengthening regional industry participation and production capacity.
www.railbaltica.com
