Latvia could begin leasing diesel trains manufactured by the Swiss company Stadler from Estonia, the chairman of the board of Pasažieru vilciens (PV), operating under the brand “Vivi”, Raitis Nešpors, told LETA in an interview.
He noted that Estonia’s passenger rail operator Eesti Liinirongid, which operates under the brand “Elron”, has purchased new Škoda electric trains and is currently electrifying railway lines. As a result, the Estonians may theoretically have surplus Stadler diesel trains available.
When asked whether Latvia could buy these Stadler diesel trains, Nešpors said that leasing would have to come first, as the Estonians must fully integrate their new electric trains into service and therefore need to keep backup options. Estonia is not yet ready to completely give up its diesel fleet.
“We are currently discussing leasing, and it is possible that the first two trains could arrive in Latvia next year,” he added.
Nešpors explained that on Latvia’s electrified lines,
the new fleet of 32 Škoda electric trains will eliminate the need for additional rolling stock
for the next 20 years. On non-electrified lines, however, 23 diesel trains are currently in use. PV calculations suggest that over the next 10–15 years, Latvia will need 28 trainsets.
“Therefore, the number of diesel trains does not need to increase significantly, but the issue is the level of service provided. In summer, diesel trains lack air conditioning, and in winter the first morning departures can be cold because old trains take time to warm up. Unfortunately, if passengers don’t see improvements, they may return to other means of transport,” Nešpors stressed.
He noted that a decision has already been made to complete the procurement of battery-electric trains (BEMU). The contract is expected to be signed by the end of the year, allowing production to begin so that by 2029 Latvia would receive nine battery trains, with an option to purchase six more if financing is found. “This means we can hope for up to 15 battery trains, which would replace most of the existing diesel fleet,” Nešpors added.
At the same time, he confirmed that
PV is cooperating with Lithuanian and Estonian rail operators and is exploring different financing options
to replace the remaining aging diesel trains, as the current EU funding period has ended.
As previously reported, Estonia began operating its new Czech-made Škoda electric trains at the end of November this year.
Elron purchased a total of 16 electric trains from Škoda Group: 11 for long-distance service and five for suburban routes. The total value of the procurement is €146 million.
Elron also operates Stadler trains manufactured in Switzerland and delivered between 2012 and 2014.
It has also been reported that
Latvian railways transported a total of 19.445 million passengers last year
– 13.5% more than in 2023 and 5.3% more than before the pandemic in 2019.
Additionally, in mid-December 2023, PV began passenger operations with new electric trains manufactured by Škoda Vagonka. The trains had undergone extensive testing on Latvia’s railway infrastructure beforehand. Nevertheless, during December 2023 and January 2024, the new trains were regularly affected by various technical issues.
PV was established in 2001, when domestic passenger transport was separated from LDz’s other functions. Previously, PV was a 100% subsidiary of LDz, but in October 2008 it was transformed into a state-owned company.
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