Geotechnical exploration works on the Rail Baltica route through Riga get under way 17 January, according to RB Rail, the company responsible for building the 6-billion-euro infrastructure project.
The unofficial “left bank alliance”, which is made up of neighborhood associations from the Āgenskalns, Bieriņi, Torņakalns and Zasulauks suburbs of Rīga, has expressed alarm over the planning of the Rail Baltica rail route, concerned that the once-in-a-century project could create a barrier bisecting the area and upend traffic with complicated crossings, according to a Latvian Radio broadcast on January 16.
The management of Latvia's state-owned railway company Latvijas dzelzceļš (LDz) announced large-scale job losses within the company January 16.
Latvian airline airBaltic said January 16 that in 2019 it carried more than 5 million passengers for the first time in its history.
From February 1, passengers on several Rīga trolleybus and bus routes will have to hop aboard via the front doors only and alight from the other doors, municipal transport company Rīgas satiksme said January 10.
Rīga International Airport consolidated its position as by far the busiest airport in the Baltic states during 2019, with figures reported January 8 claiming another year of double-digit growth in passenger numbers.
Latvian airline airBaltic will launch a new summer seasonal route between Riga and the Russian city of Yekaterinburg on April 1, 2020, the airline announced January 7.
The 6-billion-euro Rail Baltica infrastructure project has been subject to a joint audit by officials in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania which has identified several areas of concern, with the company in charge of constructing the pan-Baltic high-speed rail route, RB Rail, saying it would take action to improve the situation.
Last year 10 old trams produced both in Rīga and the Czech Republic were sold at auction at scrap metal prices, while others were taken to scrap metal junkyards, museums, or used as retro trams for excursions, according to a Latvian Radio broadcast on January 5.
“Transport on demand” could become part of the Latvian public transportation system after a pilot program was successfully launched in the Alūksne and Mazsalaca regions in October 2019, according to a Latvian Radio broadcast on January 1.
On Wednesday, January 1, one of Riga's most popular public transport stops - the minibus ranks opposite the Central Railway Station - has closed for business, LTV reported.
On December 31 and January 1, public transport in Rga (including tram, trolleybus, bus and minibus transport) will be available free of charge, and additional services will be provided on New Year's Eve to cater for revellers, municipal transport company Rīgas satiksme said December 27.
The Transport Ministry has drafted amendments to the Road Traffic Law, which include a definition for electric scooters and where it would be allowed to ride them, according to Latvian Radio on December 25.
Anyone planning to jet away this Christmas and New Year season is being advised to make sure they get to Rīga International Airport with plenty of time to spare as the airport is expecting its busiest ever end of year.
From January 2020 the Rīga City Council plans on closing down a road in the city center to street traffic once a month on the first Saturday, according to LETA news agency on December 17.
To deal with an emergency in connection with Freeport of Ventspils operations, the ruling Latvian coalition has decided to set up a new state-owned joint stock company that would take over the rights, obligations and functions of the Freeport of Ventspils, the LETA news agency reported December 16.
The Latvian State Roads network development strategy calls for the creation of high-speed roads, which would be the backbone of the network between the largest Latvian cities, announced the Ministry of Transport on December 6.
On December 12, the Saeima, at first reading, approved amendments to the Law on Ports, which provide for the taking over of the Freeport of Riga and Ventspils under public administration.
The 6-billion-euro Rail Baltica infrastructure project is showing off what might be the shape of things to come in the form of designs for the stations, bridges, crossings and other pieces of civil engineering likely to be located along its 870-kilometer route.
On December 3, 2019 Latvian airline airBaltic played host to Minister of Transport Tālis Linkaits and media to show off its Airbus A220 flight simulator at the airBaltic Training facilities next to Riga International Airport. It is the first new full flight simulator ever purchased by a Latvian company and the newest such simulator in the world, the company said.
From now on, vehicles equipped with non-compliant winter tires will be banned from roads by having their roadworthiness certificate and license plates removed, the Road Transport Safety Directorate (CSDD) said December 3.
The future of Rail Baltica is in the balance due to poor corporate governance and conflicts of interest, according to a statement signed by 62 employees of RB Rail, the company overseeing the major infrastructure project, the LETA news agency reported November 27.
The company managing the 6-billion-euro Rail Baltica infrastructure project announced November 26 it had appointed Latvian Agnis Driksna, the Director of Development and Communications Department at “European Railway Lines” in the capacity of the interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of RB Rail AS.
Passeners with Latvian national airline airBaltic are expressing increasing dissatisfaction with recently-introduced changes to the company's baggage rules, reported Latvian Radio November 25.
The Riga Freeport board decided to sign a 40 million euro contract for the construction of the Kundiņsala overpass with companies possibly associated with persons charged in the “construction cartel” scandal and amid leadership reorganization at the Riga City Council, according to the November 17 LTV broadcast De Facto.
The Rail Baltica joint venture, RB Rail AS, has published a study evaluating the ways in which integration of airport passenger traffic might be combined with the Rail Baltica railway infrastructure.
Work on the Rail Baltica Riga Airport station and overpass could begin in 2021. Provisional costs are estimated at around 250 to 280 million euros, 85% of which will be financed by the European Union, with 15% state co-financing, according to the Latvian Radio.
Last week several Latvian internet portals painted a near catastrophic picture around discussions about a vehicle tax.
On Tuesday, October 29, the government supported a reduction in the required state language proficiency level for passenger train conductors, as proposed by the Ministry of Transport.
The major Rail Baltica infrastructure project was given an additional headache October 28 with the announcement that Timo Riihimäki, RB Rail AS Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Management Board will step down from both positions.