Lithuanian Railways (LTG) is investigating two freight derailments that occurred within three days at Gudžiūnai in central Lithuania and Jiesia near Kaunas.
The incidents affected both the 1,520 mm
broad-gauge network and the 1,435 mm standard-gauge corridor used for Rail
Baltica and international freight services.
No injuries were reported in either case.
Gudžiūnai: crushed stone wagons derail on main east–west corridor
At Gudžiūnai station (Kėdainiai district),
three freight wagons loaded with crushed stone derailed, blocking both tracks
on one of Lithuania’s primary rail axes.
The incident disrupted traffic on several
main routes:
- Vilnius–Klaipėda
- Vilnius–Šiauliai
- Kaunas–Šiauliai
- Vilnius–Riga–Valga
A total of 23 passenger trains were
affected, impacting approximately 3,800 passengers. Bus replacement services
were arranged while traffic was suspended. Ticket sales were temporarily
halted.
Recovery required more than 24 hours of
work by around 100 LTG employees. An auxiliary recovery train equipped with a
heavy-lift crane (160–180 tonne capacity) was deployed to remove the derailed
wagons. During clearance operations, additional track damage was identified,
extending repair time. One track required major repairs before traffic could
fully resume.
Freight and passenger operations were
subsequently restored, with residual delays during final infrastructure works.
The cause of the derailment remains under
investigation.
Jiesia: international freight train to Germany derails on 1,435 mm line
In Jiesia (Kaunas district), a locomotive
and four freight wagons operating from Palemonas (Lithuania) to Duisburg
(Germany) derailed from the 1,435 mm standard-gauge track.
The derailment damaged:
- The 1,435 mm Rail Baltica infrastructure
- Two adjacent 1,520 mm broad-gauge tracks
As a result, traffic towards Kybartai
(Polish border) and Marijampolė was temporarily disrupted.
Passenger services affected included:
- Kaunas–Kybartai
- Kaunas–Marijampolė
- Vilnius–Mockava
A total of 22 passenger trains were
impacted, carrying more than 800 passengers. Fourteen services operated
partially with bus transfers, while eight ran on adjusted routes with minor
delays.
Transit passenger trains through Lithuania
were suspended and in some cases returned to their departure stations. Transit
operations resumed after the site was cleared.
LTG teams worked overnight to complete
emergency recovery. Passenger and freight traffic resumed after main clearance
and track repairs were completed.
The cause of the derailment has not yet
been determined.
Network impact and investigation
The two incidents occurred within a short
period and affected both domestic passenger flows and international freight
corridors, including the Rail Baltica alignment and routes connecting Lithuania
with Poland and Germany.
LTG has formed an internal investigation
group to determine the technical and operational causes of both derailments.
The review will also assess infrastructure condition, safety requirements and
potential preventive measures.
Initial assessments indicate significant
infrastructure damage in both cases, particularly at Gudžiūnai, where track
components required replacement following wagon removal.
Findings of the investigation have not yet
been published.
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