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Martynas Gedaminskas, Director of the Department of Technical Development of the Lithuanian Railways, says that it is first necessary to choose an alternative to the relocation of the railroad crossing.
“Today would be too early to talk about areas, hectares, tree units, cubes, because now we are talking about selecting alternatives and starting planning procedures to evaluate both technological aspects and the same functions and environmental impact,” said BNS. Gedaminskas
“All these things, nuances and will answer the question of how many and what territories are needed, so today is too early to say that we will cut down X or Y hectares of forest there,” added the representative of “Lithuania Railways”.
Last Friday, a picket was held near the municipality of Klaipėda city, in which people were outraged that due to the development of railway infrastructure, it would be necessary to cut some 30 hectares of coastal forest.
The government, for its part, approved on Monday the reorganization of the Klaipeda railways.
It aims to gradually increase most of the cargo flow from the central station to 2030, while expanding and modernizing the Pauostis road and the Draugystė railway station in the territory of the seaport, which can cost around 80 million. euros
The station’s redevelopment plans relate to one of the conditions of almost 20 city authorities for the port: to reduce cargo flows through the central train station and the city highway. These conditions are set out in the port’s general plan approved last year, which contemplates the construction of an external deepwater port in Melnrage.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications declares that the objective of this Government Resolution is to create legal conditions to start the preparation of development plans and establish planning objectives.
Alternative – Col Village
Transport and Communications Minister Jaroslav Narkevičius says the transformation of the railway infrastructure of the port city will create better conditions for the service of the port of Klaipeda.
“The restructuring and development of the infrastructure of this railway crossing will create better conditions to serve the port of Klaipeda, improve the conditions of cargo transport and at the same time protect the central part of the city of Klaipeda from the noise caused by the trains of cargo, “the minister said in the ministry statement.
According to him, the intention is to take into account the needs of the population, as well as preserve the green spaces of the city.
“When planning strategic objects, we will also strive to preserve the vegetation of the city and listen to the needs of the people,” said J. Narkevičius.
Currently, due to the relocation of the Klaipėda railway crossing, several alternatives are being considered to free the city center from freight trains, reduce noise and pollution.
One of them is to install the necessary infrastructure on the Pauostis road in the Giruliai forest. Other – near the town of Kopūstai in the Klaipėda district. Among other things, a “zero” alternative is being considered, where the railroad crossing would remain as it is now.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications announces that it was decided to specify the Kopūstai village alternative in the draft resolution after further consultation with representatives of the Klaipėda communities last Friday.
A representative from Lithuania Railways said he could not say which alternative was better.
“All the procedures will be carried out, the alternatives will be evaluated and the corresponding figures will answer which alternative is better,” said M. Gedaminskas.
Residents oppose the crossing.
Renaldas Kulikauskas, president of the Association of Klaip deda Communities, which also includes the Giruliai community, says that the locals do not want part of the Giruliai forest cleared.
“We do not want the forest to be logged and we want the Giruliai forest to be considered a fundamentally unexplored alternative, considering additional plans related to the dry port and then talking about a larger area instead of about 30 hectares,” said the head of the association. .
He added that if the planned rail infrastructure were installed in the town of Col, it would satisfy local communities.
“And we want to reconsider the territory provided for in the general plan of the Klaipėda district near the town of Kopūstai,” he said.
Tomas Meškinis, president of the Vite community that belongs to the center of Klaipėda, says that the Lithuanian Railways has promised to install special walls to contain noise for ten years, but this has not yet been done.
“Those walls are late, nothing has happened for more than ten years,” T. Meškinis told BNS.
Still, the man said the walls could contain the noise, but the vibrations would not stop it, so it is best to lift the railroad crossing out of town.
Community President Vite also says that it would not be good for part of the forest to be cut down during the excavation of the railway crossing in Giruliai, among other things, he is considering that it is cheaper for the government to install a railway crossing in Giruliai than in the Cabbage village.
“I also understand their side, but the population side is different,” said T. Meškinis.
There will be no financial benefits.
The transformation of the railway infrastructure of the port city is intended to free the center of Klaipeda from freight trains, reduce noise and air pollution, after the transformation only passenger trains would reach the city center, and the cargo would only go to the Draugystė railway station.
Lietuvos Geležinkeliai claims that neither the company nor the port stowage companies will feel the tangible economic benefits of lifting the rail crossing.
The company also says that the increasing flow of containers leads to an increased flow of trucks in Klaipeda and its entrances, therefore there is a need to improve the interaction of the Klaipeda port with rail transport.
Among other things, it is necessary to ensure that more than 2/3 of all cargo to and from Klaipeda port is carried by rail.
According to Lietuvos Geležinkeliai, in a realistic or even optimistic scenario, the start of construction of the planned infrastructure would take four to six years.
Gradually reduce the route of the Klaipeda central train station by 2030, leaving the station only for passenger transport, according to the company, provided for in the solutions of the draft amendment to the Klaipeda General Plan.
Currently, according to the Lithuanian Railways, this project is being prepared by the Klaipėda City Municipal Administration, which is following the decision of the City Council.
Solutions to adjust the overall plan of the municipality of Klaip districtda are also currently being coordinated. During various coordinations with the Municipality of the Klaipėda District, the territories necessary for the development of the communication infrastructure of the Klaipėda railway crossing were discussed and coordinated.
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