Latvian railways have a length of over 2,200 km. The state-owned company Latvijas dzelzcels manages the country's railway network. Together with its subsidiaries, this concern provides passenger and cargo transportation throughout the territory of Latvia. The LDz company has existed since 1919 and is considered the largest in the country. More detailed information can be found on the website www.ldz.lv.
Development of the railway network
The Latvian railway reached its maximum length in the middle of the last century. Its rapid development (electrification, technical equipment) took place until 1980, the reduction of the network began in the 1990s. During this period, the lines were dismantled, passenger traffic was reduced. Today, passenger traffic is not available on all routes, and freight traffic is concentrated south of the Riga hub.
Latvian railways are very important for economic development. Thanks to the railway communication, many industrial enterprises appeared in the country and the trade turnover increased. In the last century, the city of Daugavpils was the most important transshipment point on the St. Petersburg - Warsaw highway. After a while, the main transport junction appeared: Dinaburg - Dvinsk - Daugavpils. Through it, goods were transported to the ports of Riga from Russia.
Currently, the Daugavpils junction is located at the junction of countries such as Lithuania, Belarus and Russia. This increases the importance of the railway for Latvia, since freight trains of the listed countries, as well as Asian countries, pass through this junction. Latvian Railway is the leader in terms of freight traffic. It is on the railways that the bulk of the cargo arrives in the country.
Passenger Transportation
International passenger trains travel regularly around the country. Using the railway, a passenger can travel from Riga to Russian cities (Moscow, Pskov, St. Petersburg). The road from Riga to Moscow takes about 17 hours, and it takes 13 hours to get to St. Petersburg. When crossing the border, passengers undergo control: checking documents and baggage.
The main railway station of Latvia is located in the center of Riga. It is a lively place with shops, cafes, kiosks, eateries. Access to the aprons is carried out through the tunnels. From the main station, trains depart on different routes, including international ones. Diesel trains and electric trains are used on local lines. They run in such directions as Tukums, Jurmala, Liepaja, Jelgava, Daugavpils, etc. Many trains have wagons with Wi-Fi. Train timetables are available on the website www.ldz.lv. Changes in the ticket price schedule are also published there.
