23 new electric trains were introduced to Latvia’s rail network last Friday, starting passenger service in Riga and the surrounding regional network.
The revamping of Latvia’s rail service project was financially supported by EU Cohesion funds from the 2014-2020 programming period, with a total of €114 million.
The renovated rail service is now expected to carry approximately 15 million passengers annually on its regional routes.
According to the EU Commission, this will result in a significant decrease in air and noise pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and traffic congestion in Riga. Additionally, it will reduce travel time for residents in the surrounding Pieriga area.
The project was inaugurated by the Latvian Minister of Transport, Kaspars Briškens, along with Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President for an Economy that Works for the People and Commissioner for Trade.
The European Commissioner for Trade, Valdis Dombrovskis, welcomed the EU funding’s contribution as a significant enhancement to the Latvian public transport system, ensuring advantages for thousands of passengers in the country.
This new train service will improve their daily lives, connecting people and places like never before. We need to continue working with the Latvian authorities to make sure that all available EU funds are put to timely use in improving Latvia’s transport infrastructure and connectivity.
Whereas the Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, said that through this project, the Cohesion Policy contributes to both the green transition and the well-being of European citizens.
EU Cohesion funds have not only enabled the construction of these trains but have also supported wider train infrastructure, such as station platforms, multimodal transport links, and better accessibility for persons with disabilities.
Latvian Minister Briškens marked the inauguration day as a historic event for Latvia while sharing pictures of the inauguration and a video of the passengers on the new electric train through his social media channels.
A historical day for Latvia – our new regional trains enter into commercial operation. Today I honor the many behind-the-scenes heroes who made this possible just in time for Christmas.
Furthermore, the first journey for the Vilnius-Riga rail connection is expected to commence on December 27 this year, as the Lithuanian Railways Group’s company, LTG Link announced last month.
While the company warned that the dates may be modified, it also unveiled that the train service is scheduled to make stops at significant locations, such as Vilnius, Kaišiadorys, Šiauliai, Joniškis, Jelgava, and Riga.
