Latvia’s Ministry of Transport plans to invest approximately 175 million euros in the Rail Baltica project for 2024, with 115 million euros secured through EU funding. The primary focus will be on advancing the design of the Rail Baltica mainline and continuing construction efforts, expanding the mainline beyond Latvia’s capital, Riga. Transport Minister Kaspars Briškens emphasized the project’s transition to the construction phase across all Baltic states, aiming to connect the Baltic states with Poland by 2030.
In Latvia, the allocated funding will initiate the first mainline construction works in the priority southern direction. The 2024 budget for transport development, totaling 788 million euros, designates approximately 22 percent for the Rail Baltica project. Construction will persist at the Riga Central Railway Hub, with 65 million euros earmarked for the third phase of works, including trackways, catenaries, signaling, and engineering network installations.
Improvements are planned for the Riga Central Station area, encompassing the construction of engineering networks, finishing touches, roof construction, as well as the installation of escalators and elevators. Construction at Riga Airport will continue, completing the parking lot and constructing Latvia’s longest railway viaduct. The budget also addresses challenges, such as uncertainties surrounding the completion of the Rail Baltica railway bridge across the Daugava River.
Priority in mainline construction is given to the southern direction to Lithuania, with a budget of 26 million euros in 2024. Additionally, funds are allocated for a logistics base at the Iecava Infrastructure Maintenance Point. The budget includes provisions for real estate expropriation, and the signing of a contract for mainline construction is expected to commence in early 2024.
In the realm of mainline design, 19.6 million euros are allocated for works in four Latvian sections, targeting completion by the end of 2024. Design work will continue on regional mobility points, logistics centers, and maintenance points, with investments totaling 8.1 million euros in the 2024 budget. Furthermore, funds are allocated for the technical and economic justification, optimal location selection, and the sketch project of the Rail Baltica Movement Control Center in Latvia, overseeing train movements across the entire Rail Baltica railway line.
Image source: https://www.railfreight.com/infrastructure/2024/01/02/rail-baltica-will-get-175-million-euros-from-latvia-in-2024/