Anykščiai Narrow-Gauge Railway - living narrow-gauge railway heritage

What the Siaurukas is

The Anykščiai Narrow-Gauge Railway is part of the Aukštaitija Narrow-Gauge Railway and one of the most recognizable technical-heritage sites in Lithuania. It is popularly called simply the Siaurukas.

The official operator presents regular, short, educational, entertainment, and holiday journeys. This means the place is not only a station to look at: the best experience comes when you can actually ride the train.

A historic railway

The origins of the Aukštaitija Narrow-Gauge Railway go back to the late nineteenth century. The first 750 mm gauge section, Švenčionėliai-Pastovai, opened on 11 November 1895, and by 1899 the narrow-gauge railway had reached Panevėžys. According to official source information, the first trains began running through Anykščiai on 28 September 1899, while the official opening of the Panevėžys section came later, on 13 May 1901. Counted from 1899, the Siaurukas marked its 125th anniversary in 2024.

The 750 mm narrow gauge was a practical regional transport solution, connecting towns, passengers, freight, and local farming. In the interwar period it carried timber, butter, grain, and flaxseed. The Anykščiai-Utena-Švenčionėliai line closed in 1972, but the Anykščiai-Rubikiai section survived with its rails still in place.

Today its value is different. Freight traffic ended in 1999, and in 2001 the Siaurukas stopped operating as everyday transport and became a historic tourist train. It is a cultural-heritage object of national significance, the only operating and longest historic 750 mm railway in the Baltic states. The active section between Panevėžys and Rubikiai is 68.4 km long and passes Raguvėlė, Surdegis, Troškūnai, and Anykščiai.

Anykščiai as the main visitor point

Anykščiai is one of the easiest places to begin discovering the Siaurukas. The station, tracks, carriages, and tourist journeys fit naturally into a town sightseeing route.

In the summer season, from May to October, a regular service from Anykščiai takes passengers toward Lake Rubikiai, crossing the bridge over the Šventoji River, one of the most scenic parts of the line. Because schedules and directions change by season, check the official Siaurukas page before planning the day.

The journey

The Siaurukas is not fast transport. Its charm lies in slow movement, wooden or historic carriages, small stops, the sound of the rails, and the Aukštaitija landscape outside the windows.

It works especially well for families, technical-heritage enthusiasts, and travellers who want not only to photograph an object, but to experience it while it is operating.

What to plan in advance

Before travelling, the most important things to check are the route, time, tickets, and whether the service is actually running on your chosen day. Siaurukas journeys are often seasonal or themed, so a spontaneous visit may leave you with only the station and no train.

If travelling with children, choose a clear journey length and theme. If travelling with older people, check boarding convenience, station infrastructure, and journey duration.

Anykščiai station and technical heritage

Even if you do not ride the train, Anykščiai station and its narrow tracks have heritage value. Here you can feel the small scale of a regional railway, something difficult to sense in modern transport hubs.

Still, looking at the station alone is not the same as riding. If possible, plan the route so the Siaurukas is the centre of the day rather than a random stop.

What to combine it with in Anykščiai

The Siaurukas is easy to combine with the Anykščiai Tree Canopy Walk, Puntukas Stone, the banks of the Šventoji, Anykščiai centre, and the direction of Lake Rubikiai. Such a day becomes very varied: technical heritage, nature, boulders, and town culture.

If you only have a few hours, choose one clear Siaurukas journey and one nearby site. Anykščiai makes it easy to overplan, so leave enough time for the journey itself.