Passenger train operator Vivi has attracted the maximum available European Union funding of €168 191 033 for the purchase of new electric trains and bicycle racks, significantly reducing the impact of the project on the national budget.
The carrier Vivi has purchased new electric trains, co-financed by two European Union projects.
The purchase of the first 17 new electric trains was carried out in accordance with the Cabinet of Ministers Regulations No 467 of 28 July 2020 "Implementing Rules for Measure 4.5.1.1 of the Operational Programme "Growth and Employment", Specific Support Objective 4.5.1.1 "Developing Environmentally Friendly Public Transport Infrastructure", attracting co-financing of EUR 101 671 238 from the European Union Structural and Cohesion Funds for the 2014-2020 programming period. The purchase of 15 new electric trains and bicycle carriers was carried out in accordance with the Cabinet of Ministers' Regulation No 579 of 30 August 2024 "European Union Cohesion Policy Programme 2021-2027 2.4.1. Specific support objective "Promoting sustainable multimodal mobility by encouraging the use of electric vehicles", Measure 2.4.1.2 "Purchase of emission-free trains - electric trains", attracting co-financing of EUR 66 519 795.
The total cost of the new electric trains is €244 846 309, of which €168 191 033 has been raised from the European Union's Cohesion Funds, thus enabling passenger train operator Vivi to attract the maximum amount of funding available from the European Funds.
"Initially, the purchase of all new electric trains was planned to be financed entirely from the state budget. In close cooperation with the Ministry of Transport we found an opportunity to attract European Union funds for the project. Although a number of challenges arose during the implementation of the project due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, the cooperation of all parties involved was able to successfully overcome all difficulties and ensure the full absorption of the available EU funding. I would like to thank my colleagues from the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Finance and the Central Finance and Contracting Agency," said Raitis Nešpors, Chairman of the Board of JSC "Pasažieru vilciens".
The operator "Vivi" has received and put all 32 new electric trains into daily service. Setting up the bicycle racks has also started. It is expected that the first electric train equipped with bicycle racks will be available for services within the next week.