Pasažieru vilciens council members step down amid scandal with train problems

Members of the council of Pasažieru vilciens JSC (PV) have announced their decision to step down. The reason given for this is that the resolution of the crisis caused by the electric trains manufactured by Škoda Vagonka is beyond the council’s functions and scope, as confirmed by PV council chairman Sandis Šteins.
“The responsibility to overcome the crisis caused by Škoda Vagonka electric trains reaches beyond PV council’s authority. Starting with the railway infrastructure left to decay – power lines, railway lines and platforms – that were never adapted for the needs of the new electric trains, and continuing with a non-functioning passenger notification system in stations and on platforms,” said Šteins.

He said in the first three weeks of January alone there were 26 A-level defects found in new electric trains.

These defects made it impossible to continue using these trains. Before trains were deployed their compliance with technical specifications was confirmed by a certified institution.
“Even after repeated requests no financing was provided to restore the rolling stock. This is why it was not possible to replace defective trains in emergencies and ensure uninterrupted passenger transportation services. A considerable portion – nearly half – of the available rolling stock are nearly 50 years old,” said Šteins.
PV council members believe the only way Škoda Vagonka can prevent the crisis caused by the defects in the new electric trains only through honest cooperation with all institutions involved in passenger transport services, including the Ministry of Transport, Latvian Railway, Road Transport Administration, as well as the State Railway Technical Inspectorate.
“Coordination of this cooperation to reduce consequences from the crisis is beyond the council’s authority. It is not possible to resolve the crisis using the means available to the council, which is why we have decided to step down,” said Šteins.
Also read: Latvian Minister of Transport orders full train procurement audit amid numerous problems with new trains
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