Lithuanian state-owned LTG Cargo is on track to increase its fleet of grain cars. The company aims to purchase 500 new grain wagons that will be used to facilitate cereal transport to and from the port of Klaipeda. The purchase will be made in stages, with the first 300 wagons expected to be put into operations in the summer of 2024, on time for the next harvesting season.

Currently, LTG Cargo’s cereal wagon fleet is around 1,200 wagons. With the addition of the new ones, the company aims to reach an annual transport capacity of one million tonnes of grain. According to Egle Sime, the company’s CEO, forecasts show that the demand for grain transportation will grow in the country.

“In the last year alone, we transported 3,7 million tonnes of cereals, including almost 2,3 million tonnes to customers in Lithuania. The transport volumes are likely to increase further as all European countries focus on rail,” said Sime.

It should also be noted that LTG Cargo and Ukrainian Railways recently confirmed launching test services between Kyiv and Kaunas to transport semi-trailers. The two companies have not commented on whether the route could also be used to help with Ukrainian grain exports, as it has been discussed since the summer. Nevertheless, LTG Cargo’s grain fleet expansion could signal that there is more capacity to try it now.