Latvian authorities settle on essential focus areas for Rail Baltica project
The Latvian Government has endorsed a plan to implement the Rail Baltica project, focusing on key priorities. This ambitious initiative aims to create a European rail track gauge connection from the Lithuanian border to the Estonian border.
One of the priority tasks includes the construction of a new railway line from Imanta station to Riga Airport. This new link will connect the two passenger stations with the broad gauge railway, before the construction of the European gauge line. The Riga Airport railway station will also be integrated into the existing rail network, along with Salaspils or Daugavkrasti station, providing a transfer possibility between Rail Baltica and the existing 1520 mm rail network.
The first phase of the Rail Baltica project, as described in the report, includes building a single track from the Lithuanian border to Estonia, subject to available funding. Construction work on the Lithuanian border-Misa section will start, marking a significant step forward in the project.
The creation of a European standard gauge rail link to one of the two Riga International stations is planned. A feasibility study will be carried out for two potential connections: Upeslejas-Riga Central Station and Misa-Riga Airport. The choice between these two links will be based on a separate feasibility study to determine which is more advantageous from an economic, technical, and financial point of view.
The ongoing construction works at the Riga Airport and the southern part of the Riga Central railway station will be completed to make them operational. A loading/unloading point on both sides of the Daugava will be created for military mobility.
Disagreements within the coalition on connecting Riga to the Rail Baltica main line have occurred. The Coalition identifies the progress of the Rail Baltica project as one of the biggest challenges facing the Government. To overcome this, the use of alternative financial solutions such as public-private partnerships (PPPs) is planned.
The Government has agreed not to approve the Transport Ministry's information report, but to submit a concrete timetable for the construction plan by March next year. There is no new information available regarding which of the two potential connections—Upeslejas-Riga Central Station or Misa-Riga Airport—is preferred by the government.
In addition, the creation of at least four regional stations (Salacgrīva, Skultes muiža, Salaspils/Daugavkrasti, Bauska), infrastructure maintenance points in Iecava and Skulte, a traffic control center, and a siding for the future Salaspils freight terminal are also part of this first phase.
The Transport Ministry, along with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economics, will develop and submit a feasibility study and a solution for attracting private investment to integrate one international station along the Rail Baltica route by building a 1435 mm railway infrastructure by November 1, 2025.
As the Rail Baltica project progresses, it is expected to significantly enhance Latvia's transport infrastructure and connectivity within Europe.
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