And, now, Eastern Europe is going all in with the rail infrastructure projectRail Baltica.
Rail Baltica aims to integrate the Baltic States within the European rail internet.
The project includes five European Union countries Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and, indirectly, Finland.
It will connect Helsinki, Tallinn, Parnu, Riga, Panevezys, Kaunas, Vilnius, and Warsaw.
Rail Baltica brings countries together by building missing cross-border connections.
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Electric trains will run at speeds of 249 km/h (passengers), 120 km/h (freight).
Unfortunately though, there are no maglev trains here, which typically top 400km/ph.
But something is better than nothing.
Still, maybe in the future, therell be potential to retrofit Polish companyNevomoshyperloop-inspired MagRail technology.
It avoids protected environmental areas and includes noise protection barriers and special animal passages.
And its not just cross-border trains.
A commitment to multimodal mobility is embedded in the Rail Baltica project.
This is a huge opportunity for mobile startups.
But despite the projects potential, its location alone creates a suite of challenges.
Furthermore, the war in Ukraine has increased not only the cost of fuel, but other construction materials.
Cargorailwill be critical in aiding the transport of military goods and materials securely and at speed.
Transport Minister Talis Linkaits sees reliable connectivity with western Europe as critical to increase our countrys defence capabilities.
Construction of Rail Baltica is poised to start from 2026 to 2030.
Story byCate Lawrence
Cate Lawrence is an Australian tech journo living in Berlin.
