On November 11, the Cabinet of Ministers reviewed and approved the Indicative Railway Infrastructure Development Plan for 2025–2029. The plan defines the directions for the development and renewal of railway infrastructure, with a primary focus on enhancing passenger transportation to promote regional connectivity and meet future mobility needs of the population. The total funding amounts to €784 million, including investments from EU funds, the Recovery Fund, the Connecting Europe Facility, the Social Climate Fund, and state JSC “Latvijas dzelzceļš”.
In Latvia, as elsewhere in Europe, the railway is being developed as the backbone of the transport system, ensuring both passenger and freight mobility. As an efficient and environmentally friendly mode of transport, rail supports the European Green Deal goal of decarbonizing the mobility system by 2050. The EU’s objective is to reduce emissions by 55% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
The European Union Regulation No. 2024/1679 will significantly influence the future development directions of Latvia’s railway network as well as the technical and operational requirements for the network’s parameters. By the end of the plan’s implementation period — 2029 — Latvia must have ensured a sustainable railway infrastructure, fully integrated into the EU Single European Railway Area, capable of meeting the needs of current and future users.
Given that passenger transport currently accounts for 80% of railway usage in Latvia, while freight transport represents only 20%, the indicative plan prioritizes investments in railway lines with high passenger traffic and growth potential. This means a strategic shift of railway infrastructure from freight to passenger services — developing a safe, accessible, and convenient system for all passenger groups.
In the electrified railway zones, modernization will continue, along with the expansion of electrified areas, an increase in train speeds up to 140 km/h, and the implementation of safety improvement measures. The plan also includes the development of the first phase of Rail Baltica and the creation of “dry ports” to facilitate the transfer of freight from roads to rail.
The railway infrastructure development is synchronized with the business model of JSC “Pasažieru vilciens” and its projected 15–20% increase in passengers, reaching approximately 30 million passengers by 2034. The plan also takes into account the implementation scenario of Rail Baltica’s first phase in Latvia, specifically the connection between RIX (Riga International Airport) and the Rail Baltica main line, developed by Latvian Railways (LDz).
By 2029, the plan aims to modernize 70% of passenger infrastructure and upgrade or newly build 64% (330 km) of the contact network. The remaining 36% (188 km) of the contact network is planned to be renewed by 2034.
It is expected that these measures will improve regional connectivity and labor mobility, supported by the new RIX Riga Airport station, the modernized Riga Central Station, and the integration of Rail Baltica into Latvia’s national railway system.
