LTG Link, Lithuania’s passenger rail operator, is approaching one of the most important milestones in its rolling stock modernisation programme. Twelve of the 15 new Stadler Flirt trains ordered have already arrived in Lithuania, and all are currently undergoing testing and certification procedures ahead of their entry into commercial service, scheduled for this autumn.
Of the 12 multiple units delivered so far, seven are electric and five are BMUs, capable of running on both electrified lines and sections without overhead lines. The total order comprises nine electric trains and six BMUs.
“We are rapidly approaching a historic moment, when Lithuania’s railways will undergo a fundamental transformation. From this autumn onwards, residents of major cities and rural areas will be able to travel on modern electric trains manufactured in Switzerland,” said Juras Taminskas, Minister of Transport.
Tests are progressing ahead of entry into commercial service
The testing process begins at the Stadler factory in Poland, where the trains’ main systems – including ventilation and safety systems – are checked. Testing then continues in Lithuania, where static and dynamic tests are carried out to assess acceleration, braking, behaviour at different speeds and operational performance.
According to LTG Link, the tests carried out so far have yielded positive results, and trials involving double and triple trainsets, as well as trains in mixed configurations, will begin shortly. All 15 trains will need to complete the testing and certification process before being put into service.
Once the tests are complete, the Lithuanian Transport Safety Authority (LTSA) will analyse the results and issue the necessary authorisation for the trains to enter passenger service.
The new Stadler Flirt electric trains will run on the Vilnius–Klaipėda–Vilnius route and will have 200 seats, ample space for bicycles and, for the first time in several decades, a bistro area where passengers will be able to buy drinks and hot food. During peak periods, the trains will be able to run in pairs or even as triple-unit trains.
Battery-powered trains will serve the Kaunas–Šiauliai–Kaunas and Vilnius–Varėna (Marcinkonys)–Vilnius routes. They offer 128 seats, coffee and snack vending machines, are accessible to people with reduced mobility, and can reach speeds of 160 km/h on electrified lines and 120 km/h when running on battery power alone.
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