While Estonia and Lithuania have been expressing enthusiasm in recent weeks about potential new international rail links to Latvia, the response from Latvia itself appears to be more cautious, as reported by Latvian Radio on November 6.
Latvia’s Ministry of Transport (SM) has indicated that while it supports the idea of north and south initiatives for passenger train traffic connecting Vilnius and Tartu to Riga, questions remain about whether the costs associated with establishing these renewed links are justified.
“LTG Link,” the Lithuanian railway passenger transport company, has expressed its desire to initiate passenger transport from Vilnius to Riga. The Estonian state passenger train operator, operating under the “Elron” brand, has also expressed its intention to commence passenger transportation on the Tartu-Riga route next year, with the Estonian government allocating 300,000 euros for this purpose.
However, a representative from the Latvian Transport Ministry has taken a cautious approach, emphasizing the importance of cost considerations and other logistical details. They expressed openness to the idea but stressed the need for careful evaluation.
Although representatives from Lithuania and Estonia have announced plans to commence passenger transport to Latvia by the following summer, the director of the State Railway Administration, Andulis Židkovs, noted that no official applications have been received from the Lithuanian and Estonian railways. The establishment of international routes would require the European Railway Agency’s unified safety certificate, and the Latvian State Railway Administration would need to assess the impact of these new routes on Latvia’s existing transportation system.
Židkovs highlighted the need to balance profitable departures, particularly during morning and evening commuting times, with services that may not generate profits but are essential for providing public transport. He emphasized that the state often covers the losses incurred by less profitable routes.
Currently, there is an existing ‘international’ route between Latvia and Estonia, operating multiple times daily from the Estonian town of Valga to Rīga. However, this Latvian train service only travels a short distance into Estonia, reaching the rail station in the neighboring town of Valka.
Former Minister of Transport Tālis Linkaits from the New Conservative Party emphasized the broader benefits of expanding international rail connections. He believes that Latvians would benefit from the convenience of neighboring countries’ train services entering Latvia, and this could lead to increased tourism and cultural exchanges between cities in the Baltic region.
