There are no plans to increase public transport ticket prices in response to increasing fuel prices, said Latvian Minister of Transport Tālis Linkaits in an interview to Latvijas Radio programme Krustpunktā.
«Ticket prices for trains and buses will remain the same,» stressed the minister.
The minister also said he hopes residents who have the option will switch to using public transports.
At the same time, Linkaits mentioned that to avoid increasing public transport ticket prices,
public transport service providers will require bigger grants from the state.
The politician also mentioned that the Road Transport Administration is currently working on evaluating existing contracts with carriers and ways to correct compensations for carriers that experience price growth.
Linkaits mentioned that electric train traffic sector has signed a very economically favourable contract for the procurement of electricity until autumn.
Among the reasons for residents to switch from private to public transports, Linkaits mentioned better quality transports, such as new trains that will soon arrive and will start coursing in Latvia, as well as a better network of routes and more frequent trips.
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The minister also outlined the possibility of Latvia adopting a single ticket system in the future, adding that the system should come online this year. However, introduction of the system is slowed due to delays with issue of new eID cards. The general concept provides that any person with an eID card will be able to purchase a ticket and use discounts when boarding public transports.
«I have reached out both to the minister of the interior and have requested speeding up the process with the issue of cards. Unfortunately, in four years since we’ve started working with the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP), the process has progressed very slowly. We offered both Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD) services, as well as joint state and municipal customer service centres. We’ve yet to see any response from PMLP,» said the minister.