One of the largest megaprojects in Europe is on its way to connecting the Baltic states with the rest of the continent using nearly 900 kilometers (560 miles) of high-speed rail.
Rail Baltica is currently the largest railway project under construction in Europe, connecting Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, as well as indirectly connecting Poland and Finland.
Plans for the railway, which are split between the transport departments of the three Baltic states, were first put into action in 2017, with construction on some parts of the project nearing completion. Some parts of the routes are expected to be available to passengers by 2028.
Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), the team responsible for the design of several major terminals along Rail Baltica, told Newsweek that construction started earlier this year and is progressing well.
The Passenger Terminal ZHA team said: "Phase 1 of the construction will enable temporary activation on the new station platforms while the new International tracks, the Terminal building and north and south external areas are planned to be completed in 2028.
"We are very proud to contribute to the Rail Baltica program, which will connect all residents and visitors of the Baltic countries with Europe's high-speed rail network.
"In addition to being strategic transport hubs, both ZHA projects are also designed to connect disparate districts of their cities that are currently divided by railway infrastructure, bringing new life to neighborhoods surrounding the station."
In February this year, the Riga Central Railway Station, which is expected to be the largest terminal in the project, started its final construction stage on its roof.
The new railways will be entirely electric and built using a $5 billion investment from all three stakeholder countries.
A spokesperson for the Estonian Department of Climate, one of the three departments responsible for the construction work, told Newsweek that plans to complete the railway by the end of the decade were within reach: "Construction is progressing rapidly in Estonia. We have now reached the construction of the main line.
"55 kilometers of the main line is under construction, construction procurement for 20 kilometers is in the final stage. The length of the Estonian main line is about 215 kilometers in total.
"By the end of this year, the first construction phase of the Ülemiste passenger terminal will also be completed. The aim is to have the railway completed by the end of 2030."
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