Latvia - General Information
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. Click on the image under either Train departure schedule from Riga station or Train arrival schedule at Riga station.
- International services:
Train Timetable and select either "Depart from Riga" or "Arrive in Riga".
Printed Timetable
The Iekšzemes Pasažieru Vilcienu Kustības Saraksts, which is entirely in Latvian, does not include international trains.
Engineering Information
Bus Information
Autoosta covers the country.
Lux Express operates coach routes in the Baltic region.
Maps
Printed Maps
- European Railway Atlas: The Baltic States, Belarus and Ukraine by M.G. Ball (1 June 2017) ISBN 9978-0-9955070-9-8
- European Railway Atlas by M.G. Ball (1 May 2016) ISBN 978-0-9932457-8-7
Web-based Maps
- Thorsten Büker's Map of the Baltic States - useful single sheet overviews - dated October 2009
Ticketing
There are no known network tickets, but fares are cheap. Tickets are issued for specific trains or for a timed validity.
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 (1520mm) except the Gulbene - Alūksne line (750mm)
Electrification
3 kV DC.
Plans exist to electrify additional lines, increasing them from 257 km to 839 km, as well as convert those around Rīga to 25 kV AC by 2030. Following a review by Ernst & Young Baltic the project has been split into three phases:
- 2019 - 2023: electrify the freight corridor from Daugavpils and Rēzekne via Krustpils and Jelgava to Ventspils and Liepāja.
- 2020 - 2025: electrify Daugavpils to Indra (Belarus border) and Krustpils to Aizkraukle, and convert Aizkraukle – Šķirotava (Riga) from DC to AC. This will enable electrically-hauled freight trains from Belarus to reach the standard-gauge Rail Baltica freight terminal at Salaspils near Riga.
- 2025 - 2030 : convert the Rīga suburban network around from DC to AC. This has been deferred to match the anticipated purchase date of new EMUs.
Rule of the road
Most lines are single track, but on double track sections right hand running applies.
Distances
Distances are given to the nearest km in Annex 8 of the Network Statement.
Other Railways
Gulbene - Alūksne Railway www.banitis.lv
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 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
Rīga, Daugavpils, Liepāja
Recent and Future Changes
Lithuania plans to extend Vilnius - Turmantas trains over the border to Daugavpils at weekends in 2018. However, the Latvian authorities had not approved this as at December 2017.
The (Rīga -) Jelgava - Reņge service was withdrawn on 23 February 2010 after the Lithuanians lifted the tracks on their side of the border in 2009 to prevent oil trains from the huge Mažeikiai refinery exporting their products via Ventspils. This action was declared illegal by an EU court and LG are required to have relaid the track by March 2012.
From 30 May 2010 the Vilnius - Sankt Peterburg train ran only between Vilnius and Rēzekne-2, where it combined with Riga - 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 Riga - Sankt Peterburg train was combined with the Riga - 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 Riga and Minsk, reopening to passengers the border crossing at Indra. Between 1 June 2012 and 25 October 2015 it was combined with the Riga - Sankt Peterburg train as far as Daugavpils, after which the Sankt Peterburg train was combined with the Riga - Moskva train.
From 1 February 2011 a daily service was reinstated between Plavinas and Madona. This is extended to/from Gulbene 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 is impossible to reopen them owing to the poor condition of the track, some of which has been stolen.
Cross-border passenger services from Valka/Lugaži to Valga (Estonia) were reinstated on 25 April 2008.
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. Also, heavy - and profitable - freight traffic, particularly on the transit route to ports, left no paths for passenger trains.
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