A total of 23 electric multiple unit (EMU) passenger trains are to be purchased for Latvia’s railways under an EU-funded project. Electrification in the transport sector is essential for achieving EU decarbonisation and energy security goals, as the sector accounts for 25 % of Europe’s CO2 emissions.
- 05 March 2022
The trains will initially run on a 3 kilovolt (kV) direct current system. It will, however, be possible to switch them to a 25 kV alternating current system, depending on medium- to long-term progress in electrification of the Latvian railway network.
It is planned that the new trains will run on all of Latvia’s electrified railway lines. At present, these are the Riga-Jelgava, Riga-Tukums II, Riga-Skulte and Riga-Aizkraukle routes.
Replacing outdated rolling stock
The trains will be purchased for the state-owned enterprise, Pasažieru vilciens (PV), Latvia’s only public passenger rail transport provider. Currently, PV’s passenger rolling stock is outdated, with an average age of 37 years.
Electric trains were acquired between 1961 and 1989, and the fleet was partially renewed in the period 2006-2008. At that time, the service period for 68 wagons (42 % of the total) was extended by 15 years, which is set to end in 2023.
In addition to the trains bought under the project, purchase of a further nine EMUs is to be funded from the state budget.
Environmentally friendly transport
The project will contribute to the development of environmentally friendly public transport in Latvia, thereby significantly reducing the negative impact of transport on the environment.
The attractiveness of the railways will be enhanced, and the annual number of public transport journeys undertaken in the country using environmentally friendly means should reach at least 2.7 million in 2023.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Purchase of electric trains for the provision of the necessary urban and suburban passenger transport services by rail in Riga and Pieriga” is EUR 257 888 753, with the EU’s Cohesion Fund contributing EUR 114 211 073 through the “Growth and Employment” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Development of clean urban transport infrastructure”.