Viking Train - AB „Lietuvos geležinkeliai“

Container train "Viking train"

Container Train "Viking train" – is a joint project of Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine railways, stevedoring companies in Klaipeda, Odessa and Ilyichevsk seaports, connecting Baltic and Black seas with railways.

Idea of a direct intermodal train during organization of container transportation came in 1999, when the ministers for transport of Lithuania and Ukraine signed memorandum of mutual consent. Cargo transportation in containers becomes the main direction of expanding cargo transportation due to its universal nature (first launch: in 2003). By using the route of Viking train, its clients have an opportunity of saving up to 30% of their funds comparing to other types of transportation and at the same time have a guaranteed time of cargo delivery. EU/CIS border crossing time for train: 30 min.

All sizes of universal and special-purpose containers and trucks with semitrailers (contrailers) are carried by the train, which from Scandinavian and Western European countries are delivered by sea transport to the seaport of Klaipeda, as well as through Mukran-Klaipeda ferry and are transported further to Ukraine, Belarus, the Near East, the Caucasus, Turkey - through seaports of Ilyichevsk and Odessa and back.

Main route: Klaipėda (Draugystė)-Vilnius-Minsk-Kiev-Ilyichevsk and back. The route (1734 km) is covered in 54 hours. The total check of the train upon departure and arrival to border station of Kena takes just 30 minutes. This was achieved through successful cooperation with customs and border agencies and installation of advanced information systems.

Lithuanian railway stations used for this project - Draugyste, Klaipeda, Paneriai, Radviliskis, Rimkai, Kaunas, Vaidotai.

Lithuania and Turkey cooperation

Lithuanian-Turkish economic cooperation is entering a new phase and will provide new opportunities for the businesses of both countries.

"Viking train" have two alternative possibilities:

The first is development of the maritime transit routes between Turkey and Ukraine through the Black sea further extending the route to Lithuanian Klaipeda sea port.

The second possibility includes the development of the land route from Turkey through Bulgaria and Romania further extending the route to Lithuanian Klaipeda sea port.

PERSPECTIVE AND DEVELOPMENT

Further Viking Train perspective is related to the growing container traffic flows all around the world. Additional opportunity for the development of the train is the establishment of Vilnius Public Logistic Center, combining both rail and road transportation services.

Additional cargo flows can be attracted by adding Georgia or Azerbaijan to the train route. Viking Train project is constantly developing: transportation possibilities are introduced in international forums and other targeted events. Negotiations on joining the project with both before mentioned countries are being held.

· In 2009 Viking Train was awarded by European Intermodal Transport Association with Best Practice Intermodal Project.
· In 2011 Viking Train brand was patented. Project has a strong potential to expand into new conceptual markets of Asia, Caucasia and Scandinavia.
· In April, 2014, combined transportation Viking Train was acknowledged as the best green logistics and intermodal transportation project in European Union. Project was rewarded with scientific research program BestFact award.

In the past 10 years Viking Train has traveled 2,3 million km and has transported more than 300 thousand TEU or more than 4,8 million tons of cargo.

Operators of the container train and partners:

Lithuania

Lithuanian Railways

LG Ekspedicija Department

Mindaugo g. 12, Vilnius, LT-03603
Tel.: + 370 5 269 32 44; 269 35 94; 269 32 39; 269 32 54
Fax: + 370 5 269 34 87; 269 35 94
lge@litrail.lt
www.litrail.lt

Belarus

Transportation-logistics center Belintertrans

Brest-Litovskaja 13, Minsk, 220039, (карта)
Tel./Fax: +375 17 225 12 19, 225 42 23
marketing@belint.by
www.belint.by

Ukraine

	USCTS LISKI 22 DovbushaStr., Kyiv-92, Ukraine Tel./Fax: + 380 44 568 94 07 Tel./Fax: + 380 44 465 31 22 Tel./Fax: + 380 44 568 76 90 marketing@liski.com.ua http://www.liski.ua
	LLC TransContainer Ukraine Tel.: +38044 593-96-13 Fax: +38044 593-96-14 info@trcont-ua.com Skype: trcontua
	PLASKE P.O. Box 299 Odessа, 65001, Ukraine Tel.: +38 048 7 385 385, Fax: +38 048 7 385 375 cargo@plaske.ua www.plaske.ua
	LEVADA CARGO Office in Kiev Tel. +380 44 364 39 91, +380 44 585 59 27 Fax. +380 44 364 39 95 E-mail office@levadacargo.com www.levadacargo.com Office in Odessa Tel. +380 48 734 41 62, +380 48 734 41 63 Fax +380 48 734 41 67 E-mail ods office@levadacargo.com www.levadacargo.com