The company will retain its Lithuanian name, Lietuvos Geležinkeliai, but has introduced a new abbreviation, LTG.

LTG CEO, Mr Mantas Bartuška, says the new image reflects the significant changes accomplished over the past few years and the most important priorities for the future: progress, sustainability and contributing to the welfare of Lithuania.

“Over the past few years, LTG has undergone the greatest changes since Lithuania regained its independence,” he says. “We have become an open, transparent and efficient group of companies that creates benefits for Lithuania.

“Not too long ago the structure of our group also changed. Passenger transport, freight and infrastructure companies have been established, which are united by efficiency, responsibility, insight and leadership. Therefore, the reflection of internal changes externally was a natural next step. Moreover, it is also a commitment to implement even more ambitious changes in the future.”

The passenger transport division has been renamed LTG Link, the freight division has become LTG Cargo, and the infrastructure manager has been named LTG Infra.

“One of the most ambitious goals of our new century is to contribute to the welfare of Lithuania by successfully competing abroad,” Bartuška says. “Keeping this is in mind, it was important to ensure that the new brand names were easy to understand and remember not only in Lithuania, but also around the world.”

The new group logo features an arrow symbol, which LTG says embodies movement and progress, and symbolises the group’s mission to connect people and businesses. The divisions’ colours - yellow, green and red - mirror the colours of the Lithuanian flag, reflecting the commitment to contribute to the welfare of the country.

During the development of its operational strategy, LTG invited input from the public, politicians and experts in an effort understand the expectations of different groups and highlight the priorities for the future.

Based on the discussion, LTG directors have outlined 10 commitments:

  • a catalyst for Lithuanian economic growth: through its activities, the group will help businesses develop in Lithuania and abroad
  • competition abroad: the group will contribute to the welfare of Lithuania by competing with other carriers in foreign markets
  • implementing Rail Baltica: the completed project will allow 250km/h operation from Vilnius to Riga or Warsaw
  • new routes: following public feedback, LTG will introduce new routes to connect more places within Lithuania and internationally
  • a cleaner environment: following the electrification of the Vilnius - Klaipėda corridor, LTG will introduce more electric freight services  
  • intermodal transport: more containers and semi-trailers will be moved from road to rail  
  • smart ticketing: LTG Link will introduce smart technologies to ensure more comfortable travel, with the group looking to increase digitisation by implementing modern station information systems and business management solutions
  • station upgrades: LTG will continue renovating its stations
  • new passenger trains: following the electrification of the network, LTG will introduce new, fast electric trains on the core network, with the trains currently operating on the Vilnius - Klaipėda route moving to the regions, and
  • onboard Wi-Fi: LTG is committed to improving the quality of onboard internet.

“Today, we are still the least train-travelling nation in Europe,” says LTG Link CEO, Mr Linas Baužys. “However, it is encouraging that in the last few years Lithuania has been in the continent’s lead in terms of the growth of train popularity. So, we are rapidly discovering railways. I am sure that by becoming more and more modern, we will attract more Lithuanians to try out the pleasure of train travelling.”

LTG Cargo is looking to expand internationally, establishing a Polish subsidiary, LTG Cargo Polska.

“We aim to boldly enter European markets and compete with the really big, world-famous brands that await us there,” says LTG Cargo CEO, Mr Egidijus Lazauskas. “We are already increasing the volume of rail freight from China every year, and we want to do it even faster. Therefore, non-standard thinking and constant search for new solutions are necessary in order to create as many benefits as possible for Lithuania.”

The expansion into Poland will enable LTG Cargo to diversify its operational risks, increase freight flows and achieve the company’s goal of carrying 65-70 million tonnes of cargo per year.

“The changes that have taken place over the past year have strengthened and prepared us for a new phase of operation,” Lazauskas says. “And while rail freight businesses across Europe are experiencing shocks, we see the current period as an open window of opportunity for active development. This will allow us to further diversify our freight flow, reduce our dependence on traditional types of cargo, the demand for which will gradually shrink over the next decade.

“Undoubtedly, in the long run, the goal is to become an international freight carrier, offering fast, reliable and competitive freight movement, and most importantly - bold solutions for customers.”

LTG Cargo Polska is seeking strategic partnerships with freight operators in the Polish market to develop routes between Poland and Lithuania. LTG Cargo and PKP Cargo are currently negotiating a joint venture.

LTG Cargo, which was granted a safety certificate by the Polish Railway Transport Service (UTK) at the end of June, also plans to start operating freight services in Poland in the near future with a regular service between Mockava and Białystok.

LTG Infra will retain its “innovative, modern approach” to allow more efficient, reliable and commercially attractive services.

“In our activities, we envisage several steps ahead, follow innovations and quickly implement the most efficient ones in order to ensure safety, speed and throughput on the railway,” says LTG Infra CEO, Mr Karolis Sankovski. “Railway infrastructure must also be commercially attractive to customers and environmentally friendly. The electrification project we are implementing will help to achieve this as well.”