Five companies have shown interest in the opportunity to provide passenger rail transport services within Latvia, the Road Transport Administration (ATD) announced at the end of last week upon the conclusion of its international market research. “Latvijas Bizness” has previously reported that the contract between the state and the current operator, “Pasažieru vilciens”, for the provision of this service in Latvia runs until the end of 2024.

In accordance with EU guidelines, Latvia, like other member states, must ensure the opening of the rail transport market – extending the existing contract or simply re-signing it is no longer possible. Consequently, on behalf of the Ministry of Transport, the ATD launched an international survey of market participants in February this year to identify rail operators potentially willing to provide passenger transport services within Latvia. (...)