The minister’s dissatisfaction with the state-run company’s executives comes amid doubts over where the enterprise will get the money needed to pay Swiss rail vehicle builder Stadler millions of euros annually as provided by the lease agreement announced last week - the result of a lengthy tender process that was itself botched and seriously delayed.
The minister said he has approached experts from the rail transport sector who might reassess both Stadler Bussnang’s and Hyundai Rotem’s bids in the procurement tender.
No contract has yet been signed between the Swiss company and Latvia’s passenger rail carrier, with South Korea’s concern Hyundai announcing last week its intent to challenge the results within the 15-day period provided by law.