Lithuanian Railways (Lietuvos Geležinkeliai, LTG) announced that it will temporarily suspend train services between Vilnius and Klaipėda due to repair works on the 100-year-old Taučiai Railway Bridge in the Šiauliai region. The repair works will continue from Monday to Sunday, during which time both passenger and freight trains will be affected.
Passenger traffic on the Vilnius-Šiauliai line will be concentrated during the week, with 6 to 12 trains operating per day. More trains will operate on weekends. Freight trains will be routed via Pagėgiai, but this could extend travel times to 24 hours.
LTG announced that the bridge will be removed, the bearings replaced and concrete poured into new bearing support points. Michail Lipkin, CEO of Leonhard Weiss Lithuania, which is undertaking the repairs, said they are working to restart train services as soon as possible.
The Taučiai Railway Bridge was built in 1925 and is included in the Cultural Heritage Register of Lithuania.
