Latvian Television reports that the history of the Rīga-Bolderāja railway line is very long. It was opened in the 19th century but there has been no passenger traffic for 65 years. The idea of restoring passenger traffic was mooted in 2019, when the first trains were promised for 2022. But delays in schedules have followed.
"We are very frustrated that this project has dragged on like this. But now... we all know that it is also closely linked to how the other projects are progressing, etc.," said Patriks Markēvičs, Director of the Rail Department at the Ministry of Transport.
Latvian Railways plans to complete the necessary improvements for passenger traffic next year. This includes the construction of two new stops in Iļģuciems and Bolderāja.
The second half of 2025, when these stops will be completed, is also forecast as the date when the route could be opened to passengers.
"People from Bolderaja are just as important residents of Rīga as those from the city center or elsewhere. They should be able to get not only to the center of Rīga, but then also to where they need to go with the connecting routes," Markēvičs said.
Given that the first attempt to replace the existing diesel trains with battery trains has failed, it will initially be the old diesels that will run to Bolderaja. The train is planned to run only at peak times: mornings and evenings.
"There would be a total of eight daily services in each direction. This is when the train has the best chance of competing with the congested streets," said Viesturs Krūmiņliepa, an expert on rail transport at the Road Transport Directorate.
It is not yet known how long the journey from Rīga Central Station to Bolderāja would take, the Directorate said. Along with the construction of new stops, Latvijas dzelzceļš is also planning to electrify this section of the track.
