Last December, Pasažieru vilciens started passenger services with new electric trains manufactured by the Czech company Škoda Vagonka. Before that, the trains were tested and tried out for a long time but also encountered a number of problems in winter conditions. Trains did not run, services were delayed and passengers missed their daily journeys.
Vivi management has now said that the technical problems have been identified and fixed.
One of the reasons for the many glitches was that staff lacked experience with the new trains, both the drivers and those who maintain and repair the trains. Now the staff have been trained to operate the trains in winter conditions, a 24-hour operational technical support service has been set up and there should be no problems this winter.
At the same time, however, the company said that a reserve of 13 old electric trains has also been built up.
The company added that a total of 16.3 million passengers were carried on the new trains in the first 10 months of this year, 13% more than in the same period last year.
By the end of September, all 32 new electric trains had been delivered to Latvia, although one is still in the process of being accepted. Some deliveries were significantly delayed and the company is still clarifying the reasons from the train manufacturer. After assessing them, the final amount of the fine will be decided.
