EC suspects Lithuanian Railways of having limited competition on the rail markets in Lithuania and Latvia

The European Commission has informed the Lithuanian railway incumbent Lietuvos Geležinkeliai (LG) that it suspects the company of having limited competition on the rail markets in Lithuania and Latvia by removing a railway track connecting the two countries. Such behaviour, if established, would breach EU antitrust rules that prohibit the abuse of dominant market positions. The removal of this track may have prevented customers from using the services of other rail operators for the transport of freight between Lithuania and Latvia. The sending of a statement of objections does not prejudge the outcome of the investigation.
In September 2008, LG suspended traffic on a railway track running between Lithuania and Latvia. One month later LG dismantled the track. Since then the track has not been rebuilt. The Commission is concerned that these actions could have limited competition on the rail markets in Lithuania and in Latvia, in particular by obstructing the plans of a major customer of LG from redirecting its railway freight to Latvia using the services of other rail operators.