Latvia - General Information
Country Name
Latvia (Latvija)
National Railway System
Latvijas Dzelzceļš (LDZ).
Official Website
Language
Latvian.
Currency
Lat (Ls); 1Ls = 100 santīmi
UIC code
numeric 25; alpha LV
Timetable
Journey Planner
Downloadable Timetable
International trains only: www.ldz.lv/?object_id=1968 then select the relevant "International Passenger Train Time Table" from the list.
Printed Timetable
The Iekšzemes Pasažieru Vilcienu Kustības Saraksts, which is entirely in Latvian, does not include international trains.
Engineering Information
www.pv.lv/lv/atualas_izmainas_vilcienu_sarakstos/
Bus Information
Autoosta covers the country.
Maps
Quail Map Co. publishes a Railway Map "Latvia & Lithuania with Russia (Kaliningrad Region)".
Ticketing
There are no known network tickets, but fares are cheap. Tickets are issued for specific trains or for a timed validity.
Gauge
"Russian" gauge (1520mm) except the Gulbene - Alūksne line (750mm)
Electrification
3 kV dc
Rule of the road
Most lines are single track, but on double track sections right hand running applies.
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
Outside the Rīga suburban (electrified) area, passenger services have seen 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 (although secondary roads in rural areas are unsealed). Also, heavy - and profitable - freight traffic, particularly on the transit route to ports, left no paths for passenger trains.
Cross-border passenger services from Valka/Lugaži to Valga (Estonia) were reinstated on 25 April 2008. 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. Passenger services on the lines to Gulbene and to Liepāja have been reduced to twice weekly. From 30 May 2010 the Vilnius - Sankt Peterburg train runs only between Vilnius and Rēzekne-2, where it combines with Riga - Sankt Peterburg train; in consequence, the direct north- south line at Rēzekne has no passenger service and Rēzekne-1 station closed.
Special notes
The LDZ Network Statement contains useful information about the network.
Additional Notes
Some words which may help:
- 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
