Due to increasing cargo truck flow through Belarus, truck queues form at the bor- der, especially before the big holidays of the year. After the transit procedure in Russia has changed, traffic volumes via Belarus territory is forecasted to grow even more. Currently most of the country's customs do not formalize TIR Carnets.

Now carriers have an alternative way to avoid big queues at the Russian and Belaru- sian border checkpoints. JSC Lithuanian Railways and Belarusian Railways offer to transport semi - trailer trucks via the border by train. A recently - launched project - the contrailer train "Nemunas", intended to transport semi - trailers via the border, is ex- pected to interest both Lithuanian and foreign carriers.

Project "Nemunas" is an alternative to road transport and an effective way to avoid big queues at the border checkpoints of EU - CIS countries. At one time the train can transport up to 30 semi - trailer trucks via the Minsk - Vilnius - Minsk route. The travel duration is 10 hours. A carrier avoids congestion at the border, as well as certainly reaches its destination on time. Long queues are currently a big problem for the carriers from all over Europe.

The first runs allowed the drawbacks of the technological process to be assessed and eliminated. JSC Lithuanian Railways has been granted the right to apply simplified customs procedures, thus significantly speeding - up the customs clearance. Faster bor- der crossing is extremely important, considering the traffic flow issue.

The "Nemunas" project gives new opportunities for the carriers to use railway ser- vices.

You can inquire about this project by e - mail: [email protected] .

MSC Vilnius (Mediterranean Shipping Company), one of the biggest shipping com- panies in the world, intends to carry more cargoes via railway lines. For this purpose, the company signed a Letter of Intent with JSC Lithuanian Railways in mid - December. MSC Vilnius belongs to the Dutch TIL holding which holds most of the shares in "Klaipėdos Smeltė" company.

The main goals of the contract are to jointly develop logistical activities, especially in Vilnius region and PLC (Public Logistics Center), as well as to implement the white paper guidelines.

MSC Vilnius intends to establish a dry port in the Vilnius PLC terminal being built by Lithuanian Railways, so that the customers could leave their containers there under the same conditions as at the Klaipėda seaport. The empty containers stored at the Vilnius intermodal terminal would be given to the companies located both inside and out- side the PLC, in order to allow them to fill the containers with goods and send in vari- ous directions. This aims to reduce the scale of empty container transportation.

After establishing the dry port and using the competitive services of the terminal, MSC Vilnius plans to transport 100 standard container units (TEU) per week.

The Vilnius PLC intermodal terminal is built next to the Vaidotai railway station, through which the "Vikingas", "Šeštokai Express", "Saulė" and "Merkurijus" container trains make trips on a regular basis. The first service to be offered to the customers will be container transportation by railway between the Klaipėda seaport and PLC intermodal terminal.

The construction of the Vilnius intermodal terminal is scheduled for completion in the second half of 2014. This will ensure an effective integration between different types of transport, i.e. between sea, road and railway transport, using the advantages of each - the energy efficiency of railways, the speed and flexibility in door - to - door deliv- eries to the final consumer of road transport, and very wide freight geography of sea transport.

Vilnius PLC is recognized as an important economic project of the state, and JSC Lithuanian Railways is obliged by the Government to implement it. The intermodal terminal will become the central part of this project, as well as the first object in the Vilnius PLC attracting other private companies engaged in the transportation, logistics and related activities. The intermodal terminal will provide the companies located in the Vilnius PLC with an access to roads and railways, and will enable fast and efficient cargo reloading between different vehicles.

The aim is to prepare the terminal for operation by January 1, 2015.

The Minister of Transport Rimantas Sinkevičius presented the main policies for 2014 in the annual Logistics and Transport Forum held in mid - December. Next year, the Ministry of Transport is going to focus on the development and modernization of infrastructure for various transport types, and the creation of modern logistics centres.

The public logistics centres established in the country's most strategically suitable locations will help to achieve a harmonious interaction between the land, air and water transport. Modern transport infrastructure can create a favorable environment for business development and investment attraction, as well as conditions to increase regional employment. As an attractive transit state, Lithuania has favorable conditions to de- velop the advanced logistics services.

In order to make the best use of various transport types and existing transport infrastructure, in 2014 the freight intermodality and freight transport efficiency shall be im- proved.

The Vilnius and Kaunas public logistics centres, starting to operate in the last quarter of next year, will create good conditions to transport more freight by more environ- mentally - friendly vehicles, thus reducing traffic congestions, environmental pollution and energy costs, while the Lithuanian transport system will further contribute to the implementation of the EU transport policy objectives.