Construction of Rail Baltica Riga Central Station complex resumed

RIGA - Construction company BeReRix has resumed construction of Rail Baltica Riga Central Station complex, as the implementer of the Rail Baltica railroad project in Latvia, Eiropas Dzelzcela Linijas (EDzL) informed LETA.

By attracting funding from the European Union's Recovery Facility, EDzL, in cooperation with the Transport Ministry, has signed a contract with construction company BeReRix for construction of the southern part of Riga Central Station complex.

The company resumed construction work earlier in April and will complete essential works by August 31, 2026.

Funds from the Recovery Facility, together with funding provided under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and the Latvian state, will allow completing construction of the southern part of the station, development of the surrounding infrastructure and construction of platforms to the extent that the building can start serving rail passengers in the summer of 2027.

The Recovery Fund will cover construction works in the amount of EUR 104.5 million, which is approximately 75 percent of the amount necessary for implementation of the project in full. The funds will cover construction of the facade and roof of the building, upgrading platforms, construction of engineering networks and systems, including construction of six elevators for accessing the platforms, and finishing the interior of the building on the first floor.

EDzL CEO Eriks Dikevs points out that the next task is to continue work on integrating the rail track infrastructure into the complex.

BeReRix head Guntis Aboltins-Abolins explains that the construction deadlines are very tight, mainly because components for construction of building's roof and facade must be ordered in a timely manner, and their production cannot be accelerated due to their uniqueness. However, by mobilizing resources, starting work on redesign and ordering the necessary structures immediately, Aboltins-Abolins expects that work can be completed within the deadlines.

As reported, the Economic and Financial Affairs Council of the European Union (ECOFIN) at a meeting in Brussels on February 18 supported amendments to Latvia's Recovery Facility, which stipulate allocating EUR 114 million for implementation of the Rail Baltica railroad project. The funds will be earmarked for construction of the southern section of Riga Central Rail Station.

The amendments provide for reallocation of the Transport Ministry's investments. Funds for continuation of construction of Riga Central Rail Station will be allocated by suspending the Riga high-speed public transport line project, worth EUR 40 million, and development of emission-free train charging infrastructure, worth EUR 74 million.