There is enough money to continue Rail Baltica-related activities. This year it is planned to commence work in Iecava, says European Railway Lines LLC* (EDzL) board chairman Kaspars Vindris.
“There is enough money to continue work. This is very important, because there was a moment when confidence about the construction rate was much lower. Now we can safely say that there is enough money to commence work at Riga Central Railway Station – load-bearing structures, platforms and foundations within the existing railway line’s southern portion,” said Vingris.
At the same time, he mentioned that there is a slight shortage of funds to complete everything at a functional level
and switch rail traffic in the current construction lane by closing the north side of the station, where the trains are currently running, for construction.
At the same time, Vingris stressed he is not pessimistic about this situation, because currently work continues to prepare sufficient financing for Connecting Europe Facility, and there is hope to receive funding to complete the reconstruction of Riga Central Railway Station’s southern part. After that, all that will be left is to look for funding to finish landscaping in the area, which is not as critical.
Vingris also said that the rate of construction work at Riga Central Railway Station is close to what it should be. “While until now we’ve said that work continues, but it can go faster. Once this construction season is over, then, at the end of this construction season and in the winter until the beginning of the next construction season, we will be working at a very convincing pace,” said Vingris.
He also mentioned that work continues on Prāga Street near Riga International Bus Station, where bridge construction work has commenced on the right bank of Daugava River. “This is considered very good progress, because until now we’ve worried about all the work in Riga proving potentially futile if there is no connection over Daugava River,” said Vingris.
He stressed that the received budget also includes funds to commence bridge construction on the right bank of Daugava River.
“This is important because it needs to be done in parallel to the ongoing construction work to make sure all the suffering caused by the reconstruction on the Gen. Radziņš Waterfront wasn’t for nothing. This is why work has commenced this year. This means next year the influence from Rail Baltica construction project on Riga’s right bank should be lower than this year,” mentioned Vingris.
He said the situation is similar with Riga International Airport. “The work there covers a great deal of territory, and we are now looking at reconstruction of the station’s building and construction of an overpass, as well as completion of related infrastructure – roads. There is enough money to afford all this,” stressed the chairman of EDzL.
He also stressed that work will continue in both of those locations and at a rising rate, not the current or descending rate.
Vingris also said the most important news regarding the funding that has just been granted is that there are funds for the construction works of the main track outside Riga, allowing to start the construction works about 13 km in the vicinity of Iecava.
“While in Riga we’re looking at 4+2 km construction zone, we have another 13 km coming up, as well as approximately a dozen ha support zone to store equipment and construction materials. The funding for all this is EUR 165 million, including the co-financing provided by the government. This is a strong start when compared to what we had three years ago with Riga Central Railway Station’s reconstruction with a very limited funding against the total amount,” said Vingris.
*The company responsible for Rail Baltica railway line’s construction in Latvia.
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