The Latvian government has reportedly “conceptually agreed” on initially bypassing the capital city Riga within the framework of Rail Baltica to save on expenditures. However, there is some good news for freight: the conceptual plan still includes a freight terminal just outside of Riga.
The Latvian government has approved building a single-track line between the Lithuanian and Estonian borders, according to Latvian media. The plan does not include a fully integrated connection to Riga, about which there have been speculations for months.
Costs for Rail Baltica have risen dramatically, and Latvia is forced to cut its ambitions short to meet budget constraints. The Riga connection is now off the table for the time being. Construction works will reportedly start in the south and move northwards, continuing in accordance with the available funding.
Freight terminal part of the plan
The two stations in Riga, Riga Airport and Riga Central Station, will not be left out entirely. They are initially supposed to be connected to the standard-gauge Rail Baltica mainline via broad gauge. Only at a later stage will they be fully integrated into the new railway. Latvia is still floating the idea of connecting one of the two via standard gauge, but the costs for that will run into the hundreds of millions.
The total cost of a single-track mainline connecting Lithuania and Estonia is estimated at 4,5 billion euros. This number includes a connection to a future freight terminal at Salaspils, just east of Riga, which is still part of the construction plan.
