On Friday, the 15th of December, Pasažieru vilciens JSC (PV) will deploy new electric trains in three directions: Tukums, Aizkraukle and Skulte. Trips to Jelgava are planned to commence on Saturday, the 16th of December, PV representatives say.
PV reports that it is planned to perform eight trips using new trains in the direction of Tukums: two on Riga-Dubulti route and two back to Riga, as well as two trips on Riga-Sloka route and two back.
At the same time, in Aizkraukle’s direction it is planned to use new trains on a single Riga-Ogre trip and one trip back, as well as one trip on Riga-Lielvarde route. In Skulte’s direction it is planned to fill one trip on Riga-Saulkrasti direction and one back.
Also today a special opening event will be held near platform two at Riga Central Railway Station at 10:20 in the morning. This event will be attended by Minister of Transport Kaspars Briškens, PV board chairman Rodžers Jānis Grigulis, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis, and Škoda Group board member Zdenek Svata.
After the festive event the first trip of the new electric train will passengers on board will depart from Riga for Dubulti at 10:59 a.m.
On the Tukums line new trains are planned to fill the following train runs: Riga (at 10:59)-Dubulti (at 11:33), Dubulti (at 11:49)-Riga (at 12:23), Riga (at 15:39)-Tukums 2 (at 17:02), Tukums 2 (at 17:18)-Riga (at 18:38), Riga (at 16:39)-Sloka (at 17:26), Sloka (at 18:50)-Riga (at 19:38), Riga (at 18:24)-Dubulti (at 18:59) and Dubulti (at 19:18)-Riga (at 19:53).
In Aizkraukle’s direction new trains are planned to be deployed on the following train runs: Riga (at 14:18)-Ogre (at 15:01), Ogre (15.47)-Riga (at 16:30), Riga (19:48)-Lielvarde (at 20:32).
In Skulte’s direction it is planned to use new trains on these runs: Riga (at 18:43)-Saulkrasti (at 19.43) and Saulkrasti (at 20:29)-Riga (21:29).
At the same time, PV notes that once all new trains have been received and have been successfully deployed in Riga, PV will be able to introduce interval schedules on all electric train routes. Trains are planned to course every 15 to 20 minutes in the morning and evening on weekdays, which is usually the busiest time.
PV also notes that all 32 electric trains are planned to be received by mid-2024.
The first two Czech Škoda Vagonka manufactured electric trains were delivered to Riga in June 2022.
Each train consists of four train cars. The length of a single train is 109 m. Each train has 436 seats and enough room for 454 standing passengers. All trains have same-level boarding from adapted train platforms.
Pasažieru vilciens representatives previously said the company will request Škoda Vagonka to pay a fine for their failure to deliver trains on time. The maximum fine for failure to deliver each train within the agreed upon time is 10% of the train’s price.
The total costs of the project reach EUR 257.889 million.
In nine months of 2023 Pasažieru vilciens’ turnover was EUR 44.256 million, which is 19.2% more than last year. The company’s profits went down 21% to EUR 458 074.
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