Rīga–Ogre Railway Section to Be Upgraded and Airport Rail Link Built
A Latvian railway project will modernise the electrified network from Rīga Airport through Rīga Central Station to Ogre. In total, €264.18 million has been allocated, and the plan includes a shuttle train between the airport and the city centre.
Latvia will modernise the railway section running from Rīga Airport through Rīga Central Station to Ogre, while also building a new track branch to the airport. The project aims to renew the existing electrified rail network and extend the electrified zone. It also affects residents of the Ogre municipality, who use this suburban route daily to reach work or study in the capital.
What the project involves
The project is intended to improve the safety of passengers and train traffic, as well as service quality and comfort. According to Latvijas dzelzceļš (LDz), the state railway company, the upgraded infrastructure will improve access to public transport, and more passengers will be able to choose the train for daily travel. The project is expected to support labour market mobility and regional connectivity, and to help reduce vehicle emissions and the risk of road accidents. It will also contribute to defence infrastructure and military mobility.
Airport connection
A new 1520 mm gauge track branch is to be built from the Rail Baltica station at Rīga Airport to Imanta station. The Imanta–Rīga Central Station section will also be modernised. A shuttle train will run in both directions between the airport and the city centre. Initially the link will be integrated into the existing 1520 mm network, and in future it is planned to connect it to the Rail Baltica main line. For passengers from the Ogre area, the train will become an alternative to a car or bus when travelling to the airport, although a change at Rīga Central Station will be required.
Funding
The LDz part of the project, which includes the Ogre section upgrade, has €130.9 million earmarked: €111.3 million from the Cohesion Fund and €19.6 million from the state budget. LDz will work with Rail Baltica builders to construct the contact network, signalling and track systems at Rīga Central Station, integrating its southern and northern parts.
The second part of the project will be carried out by the company Eiropas Dzelzceļa līnijas. It will ensure the functionality of the Rail Baltica airport station building and infrastructure, and will build an embankment and overpass up to Zolitūdes Street. These works are budgeted at €133.3 million. In total, €264.18 million has been allocated to the project, of which €224.6 million comes from the Cohesion Fund and €39.6 million from state co-financing.
