NATO troops will not be able to quickly cross from Germany or Poland to the Baltic States in the event of a conflict with Russia. Different railway standards have become a real problem.
In the Baltic States, Railways have not changed since the Soviet Union, which will not allow NATO troops to move quickly from large bases in Europe in the event of a conflict with Russia. This conclusion, according to the portal Lenta, came to the Institute of modern war (US military Academy in West point).
"This incompatibility means that trains carrying military equipment and supplies from NATO's major bases in Germany or Poland will have to move their cargo to trains adapted to the Russian track, or deliver it to its destination on trucks. Both options require not only considerable time, but also the involvement of trained personnel and significant military resources," the report said.
This is not the only difficulty faced by the military in the transfer of troops. So, in December 2016, armored vehicles were waiting, which on the way from the German port of Bremerhaven to Poland did not pass under the bridge, because it turned out to be higher. According to the Wall Street Journal as a result of this incident, five cars were injured and remained in Germany. The army leadership did not find a safe way to transport them to Poland.