Population Density of Along The The Rail Baltica Route

Map created by Sebastian Gräff for the The European CorrespondentThe map above shows the number of people living within 25km of the proposed Rail Baltica route. More about the project:

The Rail Baltica project is one of the biggest infrastructure projects in Europe right now.

It’s a planned high-speed rail line that will connect the three Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, with the rest of the European rail network including both Poland and Finland.

Here are the key points:

What is it?

A new, electrified standard-gauge railway (European standard 1,435 mm track gauge) designed for both passenger and freight transport.
Current railways in the Baltic states mostly use the Russian broad gauge (1,520 mm), which is incompatible with Western Europe. Rail Baltica will link them directly to the EU system.

Route

Starts in Tallinn (Estonia).
Passes through Parnu (Estonia), Riga (Latvia), Panevėžys and Kaunas (Lithuania).
Continues to the Polish border and links to Warsaw.
There’s also a planned branch to Vilnius (Lithuania’s capital) and Helsinki in Finland.

Technical features

Designed for speeds up to 249 km/h (155 mph) for passengers, and about 120 km/h for freight.
Fully electrified, double-track, and compliant with EU rail standards (ERTMS signaling, interoperability, etc.).
Total length: about 870 km.

Purpose

Transport integration: Connects the Baltics more tightly to the rest of Europe.
Economic development: Boosts trade, tourism, and mobility.
Security and independence: Reduces reliance on transport links through Russia and Belarus.
Green transition: Offers a more sustainable alternative to cars, trucks, and short-haul flights.

Cost and funding

Estimated cost: €5.8–7 billion.
Funded mainly by the EU (via the Connecting Europe Facility) and the three Baltic governments.

Timeline

Construction began in phases (earthworks, bridges, and station projects).
Full operation is currently expected around 2030 (after several delays).
Some sections may open earlier for testing or partial use.

And from the map above:

Connecting the Baltics

Population density within a 25km band along the future Rail Baltica rail route

Inset map (left side):

Shows route from Tallinn (Estonia) → Riga (Latvia) → Panevėžys, Kaunas, Vilnius (Lithuania) → Poland (Warsaw, Białystok, Ełk).

Cities and population labels:

Tallinn ~400,000
Note: Although having a smaller population, Tallinn has a much higher population density than other Baltic cities.
Riga ~600,000
Panevėžys ~120,000
Vilnius ~550,000
Kaunas ~300,000
Ełk ~60,000
Białystok ~300,000
Warsaw ~1,900,000