At a meeting in Madrid in May 2026 with Spanish infrastructure operator Adif and manufacturer Talgo, the Lithuanian Ministry of Transport and Lithuanian state railway LTG examined Spanish gauge-changing technology as an option for connecting Vilnius to the future Rail Baltica main line. The focus was on the Spanish model, which features the Iberian broad gauge of 1,668 mm and the European standard gauge of 1,435 mm, as well as interoperability between conventional and high-speed rail (HSR) lines. A procedure was presented whereby the locking mechanism is released at the track-switching facilities, the wheels are shifted to the required gauge, and the mechanism is then relocked. The process takes several minutes and is carried out without the train stopping. According to the Lithuanian side, such systems can be dismantled once further standard-gauge sections have been completed and reused elsewhere. Lithuania is currently evaluating technical options for improved connections between Vilnius and Rail Baltica. The key factors in the selection are cost, interoperability and long-term transport policy objectives. Rail Baltica is being developed as an electrified 1,435 mm gauge line between Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Central and Western Europe.
