The train from Jelgava has arrived at Torņakalns station. The most direct route to the University of Latvia Academic Centre and the National Library leads dangerously along the very edge of the railway. Who will stand up for the interests of those from Jelgava, Jūrmala, Tukums, Olaine, and their fellow passengers who use the environmentally friendly train rather than a car for their daily commutes?

Eight years ago, “Zemgales Ziņas” wrote about the rather dangerous footpath used by students from Jelgava, who take the train to study in Riga and disembark at Torņakalns station. From there, two paths lead to the University of Latvia (LU) Academic Centre, located on Jelgavas iela. One is a standard pedestrian pavement along Jelgavas iela. The other is a beaten track that runs along the very edge of the railway.

The LU House of Nature, which houses the Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences, the Faculty of Chemistry, as well as the Faculty of Biology, began operations in the 2015/2016 academic year. The House of Science was added in 2019, and the addition of the House of Letters is planned for 2023. The university is developing, yet the footpath beaten along the railway remains just as it was before. However, changes are expected within the next five to ten years for the connection between the Academic Centre and Torņakalns station, which the redevelopment of Torņakalns station—adapting it for the forthcoming “Rail Baltic” railway mainline—promises to bring. (...)