Latvia - General Information: Difference between revisions
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==National Railway System== | ==National Railway System== | ||
Latvijas Dzelzceļš ([ | Latvijas Dzelzceļš ([https://www.ldz.lv/en LDz]). | ||
===National Railway Operator=== | ===National Railway Operator=== | ||
[ | [https://www.vivi.lv/en/ JSC “Pasažieru vilciens”] is the domestic passenger | ||
operator. | operator. | ||
==Language== | ==Language== | ||
| Line 16: | Line 12: | ||
==Currency== | ==Currency== | ||
Euro | |||
==UIC code== | ==UIC code== | ||
| Line 23: | Line 19: | ||
==Timetable== | ==Timetable== | ||
===Journey Planner=== | ===Journey Planner=== | ||
[ | [https://www.vivi.lv/en/ Train schedule] | ||
===Downloadable Timetable=== | ===Downloadable Timetable=== | ||
Domestic | * Domestic Services: | ||
[https://www.vivi.lv/en/information-for-passengers/ Basic train timetable] and scroll to the bottom of the page for the timetable effective from 15 December 2024 | |||
International services: [ | *International services: | ||
The only international trains are those operated by LTG Link between Vilnius and Riga, which do not appear in the Vivi timetables as they carry only international passengers. See [https://www.egtre.info/wiki/Lithuania_-_General_Information Lithuania] for details | |||
===Printed Timetable=== | ===Printed Timetable=== | ||
The Iekšzemes Pasažieru Vilcienu Kustības Saraksts, which is entirely in Latvian | The Iekšzemes Pasažieru Vilcienu Kustības Saraksts, which is entirely in Latvian. | ||
===Engineering Information=== | ===Engineering Information=== | ||
None known | |||
===Bus Information=== | ===Bus Information=== | ||
[ | [https://www.autoosta.lv/?lang=eng Autoosta] covers the country. | ||
[https://luxexpress.eu/en/ Lux Express] operates coach routes in the Baltic region. | |||
==Maps== | ==Maps== | ||
===Printed Maps=== | ===Printed Maps=== | ||
*[ | *[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball. | ||
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-3 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Series: Book 3)]] by M.G. Ball. | |||
*[[Printed Maps#ES-LT-LV-EE | Mapa Kolejowa Litwy, Łotwy i Estonii]] (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) by W. Kolondra. | |||
*[[Printed Maps#QM-LV-LT | Railway Map of Latvia, Lithuania and Russia (Kaliningrad Region)]] by Quail Map Company. | |||
===Web-based Maps=== | ===Web-based Maps=== | ||
* | *[https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/estonia_latvia_lithuania_kaliningrad_en.html Map of the Baltic States] dated July 2023 - on the [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/ Railroad Maps site]. | ||
==Ticketing== | ==Ticketing== | ||
There are no known network tickets, but fares are cheap. Tickets are issued for specific trains or for a timed validity. | There are no known network tickets, but fares are cheap. Tickets are issued for specific trains or for a timed validity. | ||
==Gauge== | Domestic tickets can be purchased from the [http://vilciens.pv.lv/en/ Vivi website] | ||
"Russian" gauge ( | |||
International Tickets to Lithuania can be purchased from the LTG-Link [https://ltglink.lt/en website] | |||
==Infrastructure== | |||
===Infrastructure Authority=== | |||
*[https://www.ldz.lv/?object_id=2672 LDz Infrastruktūra] is responsible for the infrastructure. | |||
*[https://www.lrn.lv/?lang=en LatRailNet], a Latvijas dzelzceļš (LDz) subsidiary, was set up on 27th December 2010 to allocate railway capacity and determine infrastructure charges. | |||
===Network Statement=== | |||
The [https://www.ldz.lv/en/network-statement Network Statement] page has a downloadable Network Statement for most years. | |||
===Gauge=== | |||
"Russian" gauge (1520 mm) except the Gulbene - Alūksne line (750 mm). | |||
Daugavpils and Riga tram systems are 1524 mm but the Liepāja tramway is metre gauge. | |||
===Electrification=== | |||
3 kV dc with tramways operating at 600 V dc.. | |||
The original plan was to electrify the lines to Daugavpils and Rēzekne, which carried heavy freight traffic. However, owing to falling traffic with Russia, this has been cancelled. The focus will now be on converting the network around Rīga to 25 kV 50 Hz to be compatible with Rail Baltica. | |||
. | |||
==Rule of the road== | ===Rule of the road=== | ||
Most lines are single track, but on double track sections right hand running applies. | Most lines are single track, but on double track sections right hand running applies. | ||
===Distances=== | |||
Approximate distances are given to the nearest km in Annex 2.1.B of the [[#Network Statement|Network Statement]] - TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT OF LDZ INFRASTRUCTURE | |||
==Other Railways== | ==Other Railways== | ||
Gulbene - Alūksne Railway [ | Gulbene - Alūksne Railway [https://www.banitis.lv/ Bānītis]. An English language PDF page is available [https://www.banitis.lv/pdf/eng.pdf here] and an equivalent one [https://www.banitis.lv/pdf/deu.pdf in German]. | ||
==Tourist lines== | ==Tourist lines== | ||
* High Seas Fisheries Museum, Ventspils (600mm) | * [https://muzejs.ventspils.lv/en/seaside-open-air-museum/ High Seas Fisheries Museum, Ventspils] (600mm) | ||
* Mežaparks Pioneer Railway, Rīga (750mm) remains in situ but abandoned [locos transferred to Gulbene - Alūksne line] | * Mežaparks Pioneer Railway, Rīga (750mm) remains in situ but abandoned [locos transferred to Gulbene - Alūksne line] | ||
==Metro== | ==Metro== | ||
None. The initial phase of a Metro was planned during the 1980s but has come to be seen as ecologically unsuitable (as well as having the taint of the Soviet era), so now seems unlikely to be developed. | None. The initial phase of a Riga Metro was planned during the 1980s but has come to be seen as ecologically unsuitable (as well as having the taint of the Soviet era), so now seems unlikely to be developed. | ||
==Trams== | == Trams/LRT-Systems == | ||
Rīga | Daugavpils, Rīga, Liepāja. | ||
The [https://urbanrail.net/eu/euromet.htm UrbanRailNet] site has basic diagrams of the tramway systems along with links to the local operators. | |||
==Recent and Future Changes== | ==Recent and Future Changes== | ||
===Future Changes=== | |||
====Rail Baltica==== | |||
265 km of Rail Baltica is in Latvia and some work on the new line formation towards the border with Lithuania commenced in early 2024. Reconstruction of Rīga Central and a new parallel 1 km long bridge over the river Daugava is underway but in [https://www.rynek-kolejowy.pl/wiadomosci/nowy-harmonogram-rail-baltica-do-2030-r-ma-powstac-tylko-jeden-tor-124330.html August 2025] the European Commission announced delays for multiple reasons from financial to contractual would mean the initial opening as Stage 1 by the end of 2030 would be of the line bypassing Riga to the east, with the split from some way south of Rīga heading west to serve Rīga Airport and join the Tukums - Riga line at Imanta, then to a multimodal transport hub at Rīga Central [with the existing 1520 mm gauge line rebuilt on an elevated alignment] following later as Stage 2 once additional EU funds are allocated. | |||
Alternative proposals had been suggested by the Latvian Government of "a temporary scenario, whereby trains from Estonia would cross the Daugava near Salaspils and diverge onto a chord which would take them to Rīga Airport before entering Rīga Central from the west. They would then reverse and backtrack to Misa before continuing to Lithuania via Lecava which would have extended journey times from Tallinn to Rīga by about 20 minutes. Rather than building a tunnel through the suburb of Tornakalns, the standard gauge line would be built alongside the existing railway, which would take less time and save money" but in late November 2024 the Latvian Government apparently agreed to proceed with (i) the bypass line, (ii) the new freight terminal near Salaspils on the line to Plavinas and (iii) the line from Rīga Central to the airport so the August 2025 announcement means (i) will not happen, as well as stating the line in Latvia would initially be a single track electrified railway on a double track formation. No timescales for via Rīga Airport and Rīga Central were given in August 2025, but at information meetings on the local implications on starting works near the Airport the Contractors advised they were working to a deadline of 2032 and the Latvian Government were publicly suggesting 2035. | |||
===Recent Changes (latest developments at top)=== | |||
====2020 Onwards==== | |||
The Vilnius <> Riga service was so successful that, from 6 January 2025, the Baltic states railways coordinated their timetables to enable a daily Vilnius - Riga - Tallinn journey (and return), with changes at Riga and Valga. From 10 February 2025 the train ran through between Vilnius and Valga. | |||
The cross border service with Lithuania from Vilnius via Šiauliai to Rīga resumed on 27 December 2023. | |||
Latvia cancelled all international services due to Covid travel restrictions with effect from 15 March 2020, some later resumed as listed above. | |||
====Prior to 2020==== | |||
During the summer of 2018 Ukrainian railways operated a seasonal Rīga - Vilnius - Minsk - Kyiv train via Šiauliai, thus reopening the Jelgava - Šiauliai cross border line to passengers. This train continued running until withdrawn from 15 March 2020 owing to Covid. | |||
The (Rīga -) Jelgava - Reņge | The Daugavpils - Turmantas (Lithuania) border crossing reopened to passengers on 4 April 2018 with a service only at weekends; it is assumed it continued until the Covid suspensions on 15 March 2020. It had previously closed at the end of May 2015 when the Vilnius - Sankt Peterburg (Russia) train was withdrawn. | ||
Passenger services on the (Rīga -) Jelgava - Reņge line were withdrawn on 23 February 2010. This followed Lithuania lifting the track on its side of the border beyond Renge in 2009 which prevented oil trains from the huge Mažeikiai refinery running via Renge to Ventspils. This action was declared illegal by an EU court which fined LG, which then announced in October 2017 that the line would be rebuilt "shortly". It reopened on 15 February 2020 but the internal Latvian passenger service did not resume. | |||
From 30 May 2010 the Vilnius - Sankt Peterburg train ran only between Vilnius and Rēzekne-2, where it combined with | From 30 May 2010 the Vilnius - Sankt Peterburg train ran only between Vilnius and Rēzekne-2, where it combined with Rīga - Sankt Peterburg train, thus effecting the closure of Rēzekne-1. It reverted to using Rēzekne-1 on 1 June 2012, running direct between there and Kleperova and ceasing to use Rēzekne-2. However, this service was withdrawn completely at the end of May 2015. The Rīga - Sankt Peterburg train was combined with the Rīga - Moskva train from 25 October 2015, thus diverting it via Zilupe and withdrawing the passenger service between Rēzekne and Kārsava. | ||
From 1 February 2011 a daily service was reinstated between Plavinas and Madona. This | From 1 June 2011 a service was reinstated between Rīga and Minsk, reopening to passengers the border crossing at Indra. Between 1 June 2012 and 25 October 2015 it was combined with the Rīga - Sankt Peterburg train as far as Daugavpils, after which the Sankt Peterburg train was combined with the Rīga - Moskva train. | ||
From 1 February 2011 a daily service was reinstated between Plavinas and Madona. This was extended to/from Gulbene on limited dates during the summer and at certain other peak times such as Easter. | |||
In September 2009 LDz announced its decision to dismantle the Liepāja – Ventspils, Saurieši - Ērgli, Ieriķi - Gulbene and Gulbene - Vecumi (Russian border) lines as it was impossible to reopen them owing to the poor condition of the track, some of which had been stolen. | |||
Cross-border passenger services from Valka/Lugaži to Valga (Estonia) were reinstated on 25 April 2008 see above for later closure and re-opening dates. | |||
Outside the Rīga suburban (electrified) area, passenger services saw a serious decline, with service reductions and line closures since independence, mainly because line speeds are relatively slow and therefore uncompetitive with road over trunk routes. | |||
==Special notes== | ==Special notes== | ||
Some words which may be of use: | |||
Some words which may | |||
* elektrovilcieni = electric (suburban) multiple unit trains, operating to the following destinations from Rīga: Skulte; Aizkraukle; Jelgava; Tukums 2 via Dubulti. | * elektrovilcieni = electric (suburban) multiple unit trains, operating to the following destinations from Rīga: Skulte; Aizkraukle; Jelgava; Tukums 2 via Dubulti. | ||
* dīzeļvilcieni = diesel (country) trains (at a fare scale approx. 30% higher than elektrovilcieni); apart from international trains, principally multiple units | * dīzeļvilcieni = diesel (country) trains (at a fare scale approx. 30% higher than elektrovilcieni); apart from international trains, principally multiple units | ||
| Line 97: | Line 145: | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
{{Navbox Latvia}} | |||
[[Category:General Information]] | |||
Latest revision as of 21:07, 8 September 2025
Country Name
Latvia (Latvija)
National Railway System
Latvijas Dzelzceļš (LDz).
National Railway Operator
JSC “Pasažieru vilciens” is the domestic passenger operator.
Language
Latvian.
Currency
Euro
UIC code
numeric 25; alpha LV
Timetable
Journey Planner
Downloadable Timetable
- Domestic Services:
Basic train timetable and scroll to the bottom of the page for the timetable effective from 15 December 2024
- International services:
The only international trains are those operated by LTG Link between Vilnius and Riga, which do not appear in the Vivi timetables as they carry only international passengers. See Lithuania for details
Printed Timetable
The Iekšzemes Pasažieru Vilcienu Kustības Saraksts, which is entirely in Latvian.
Engineering Information
None known
Bus Information
Autoosta covers the country. Lux Express operates coach routes in the Baltic region.
Maps
Printed Maps
- European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition) by M.G. Ball.
- European Railway Atlas (Regional Series: Book 3) by M.G. Ball.
- Mapa Kolejowa Litwy, Łotwy i Estonii (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) by W. Kolondra.
- Railway Map of Latvia, Lithuania and Russia (Kaliningrad Region) by Quail Map Company.
Web-based Maps
- Map of the Baltic States dated July 2023 - on the Railroad Maps site.
Ticketing
There are no known network tickets, but fares are cheap. Tickets are issued for specific trains or for a timed validity.
Domestic tickets can be purchased from the Vivi website
International Tickets to Lithuania can be purchased from the LTG-Link website
Infrastructure
Infrastructure Authority
- LDz Infrastruktūra is responsible for the infrastructure.
- LatRailNet, a Latvijas dzelzceļš (LDz) subsidiary, was set up on 27th December 2010 to allocate railway capacity and determine infrastructure charges.
Network Statement
The Network Statement page has a downloadable Network Statement for most years.
Gauge
"Russian" gauge (1520 mm) except the Gulbene - Alūksne line (750 mm).
Daugavpils and Riga tram systems are 1524 mm but the Liepāja tramway is metre gauge.
Electrification
3 kV dc with tramways operating at 600 V dc..
The original plan was to electrify the lines to Daugavpils and Rēzekne, which carried heavy freight traffic. However, owing to falling traffic with Russia, this has been cancelled. The focus will now be on converting the network around Rīga to 25 kV 50 Hz to be compatible with Rail Baltica. .
Rule of the road
Most lines are single track, but on double track sections right hand running applies.
Distances
Approximate distances are given to the nearest km in Annex 2.1.B of the Network Statement - TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT OF LDZ INFRASTRUCTURE
Other Railways
Gulbene - Alūksne Railway Bānītis. An English language PDF page is available here and an equivalent one in German.
Tourist lines
- High Seas Fisheries Museum, Ventspils (600mm)
- Mežaparks Pioneer Railway, Rīga (750mm) remains in situ but abandoned [locos transferred to Gulbene - Alūksne line]
Metro
None. The initial phase of a Riga Metro was planned during the 1980s but has come to be seen as ecologically unsuitable (as well as having the taint of the Soviet era), so now seems unlikely to be developed.
Trams/LRT-Systems
Daugavpils, Rīga, Liepāja.
The UrbanRailNet site has basic diagrams of the tramway systems along with links to the local operators.
Recent and Future Changes
Future Changes
Rail Baltica
265 km of Rail Baltica is in Latvia and some work on the new line formation towards the border with Lithuania commenced in early 2024. Reconstruction of Rīga Central and a new parallel 1 km long bridge over the river Daugava is underway but in August 2025 the European Commission announced delays for multiple reasons from financial to contractual would mean the initial opening as Stage 1 by the end of 2030 would be of the line bypassing Riga to the east, with the split from some way south of Rīga heading west to serve Rīga Airport and join the Tukums - Riga line at Imanta, then to a multimodal transport hub at Rīga Central [with the existing 1520 mm gauge line rebuilt on an elevated alignment] following later as Stage 2 once additional EU funds are allocated.
Alternative proposals had been suggested by the Latvian Government of "a temporary scenario, whereby trains from Estonia would cross the Daugava near Salaspils and diverge onto a chord which would take them to Rīga Airport before entering Rīga Central from the west. They would then reverse and backtrack to Misa before continuing to Lithuania via Lecava which would have extended journey times from Tallinn to Rīga by about 20 minutes. Rather than building a tunnel through the suburb of Tornakalns, the standard gauge line would be built alongside the existing railway, which would take less time and save money" but in late November 2024 the Latvian Government apparently agreed to proceed with (i) the bypass line, (ii) the new freight terminal near Salaspils on the line to Plavinas and (iii) the line from Rīga Central to the airport so the August 2025 announcement means (i) will not happen, as well as stating the line in Latvia would initially be a single track electrified railway on a double track formation. No timescales for via Rīga Airport and Rīga Central were given in August 2025, but at information meetings on the local implications on starting works near the Airport the Contractors advised they were working to a deadline of 2032 and the Latvian Government were publicly suggesting 2035.
Recent Changes (latest developments at top)
2020 Onwards
The Vilnius <> Riga service was so successful that, from 6 January 2025, the Baltic states railways coordinated their timetables to enable a daily Vilnius - Riga - Tallinn journey (and return), with changes at Riga and Valga. From 10 February 2025 the train ran through between Vilnius and Valga.
The cross border service with Lithuania from Vilnius via Šiauliai to Rīga resumed on 27 December 2023.
Latvia cancelled all international services due to Covid travel restrictions with effect from 15 March 2020, some later resumed as listed above.
Prior to 2020
During the summer of 2018 Ukrainian railways operated a seasonal Rīga - Vilnius - Minsk - Kyiv train via Šiauliai, thus reopening the Jelgava - Šiauliai cross border line to passengers. This train continued running until withdrawn from 15 March 2020 owing to Covid.
The Daugavpils - Turmantas (Lithuania) border crossing reopened to passengers on 4 April 2018 with a service only at weekends; it is assumed it continued until the Covid suspensions on 15 March 2020. It had previously closed at the end of May 2015 when the Vilnius - Sankt Peterburg (Russia) train was withdrawn.
Passenger services on the (Rīga -) Jelgava - Reņge line were withdrawn on 23 February 2010. This followed Lithuania lifting the track on its side of the border beyond Renge in 2009 which prevented oil trains from the huge Mažeikiai refinery running via Renge to Ventspils. This action was declared illegal by an EU court which fined LG, which then announced in October 2017 that the line would be rebuilt "shortly". It reopened on 15 February 2020 but the internal Latvian passenger service did not resume.
From 30 May 2010 the Vilnius - Sankt Peterburg train ran only between Vilnius and Rēzekne-2, where it combined with Rīga - Sankt Peterburg train, thus effecting the closure of Rēzekne-1. It reverted to using Rēzekne-1 on 1 June 2012, running direct between there and Kleperova and ceasing to use Rēzekne-2. However, this service was withdrawn completely at the end of May 2015. The Rīga - Sankt Peterburg train was combined with the Rīga - Moskva train from 25 October 2015, thus diverting it via Zilupe and withdrawing the passenger service between Rēzekne and Kārsava.
From 1 June 2011 a service was reinstated between Rīga and Minsk, reopening to passengers the border crossing at Indra. Between 1 June 2012 and 25 October 2015 it was combined with the Rīga - Sankt Peterburg train as far as Daugavpils, after which the Sankt Peterburg train was combined with the Rīga - Moskva train.
From 1 February 2011 a daily service was reinstated between Plavinas and Madona. This was extended to/from Gulbene on limited dates during the summer and at certain other peak times such as Easter.
In September 2009 LDz announced its decision to dismantle the Liepāja – Ventspils, Saurieši - Ērgli, Ieriķi - Gulbene and Gulbene - Vecumi (Russian border) lines as it was impossible to reopen them owing to the poor condition of the track, some of which had been stolen.
Cross-border passenger services from Valka/Lugaži to Valga (Estonia) were reinstated on 25 April 2008 see above for later closure and re-opening dates.
Outside the Rīga suburban (electrified) area, passenger services saw a serious decline, with service reductions and line closures since independence, mainly because line speeds are relatively slow and therefore uncompetitive with road over trunk routes.
Special notes
Some words which may be of use:
- elektrovilcieni = electric (suburban) multiple unit trains, operating to the following destinations from Rīga: Skulte; Aizkraukle; Jelgava; Tukums 2 via Dubulti.
- dīzeļvilcieni = diesel (country) trains (at a fare scale approx. 30% higher than elektrovilcieni); apart from international trains, principally multiple units
- darba dienās = SSuX
- [timetable note] * (reading "vilcieni, apzīmēti ar "zvaigznīti", tiks norīkoti pēc īpašas pavēles", or similar) indicates need to enquire for dates of operation
- kursēs līdz = terminates at
- atcelts = cancelled
- no = from or departure
- gala stacija = terminus or destination
- nepietur = not stopping (platform departure posters usually assume "all stations" unless otherwise shown)
- celā = journey duration
