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Riga–Lugaži Railway

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Riga–Lugaži Railway
Overview
Termini
Service
Operator(s)Latvian Railways
History
Opened1889[1]
Technical
Line length166 km (103.15 mi)[2]
Track gauge1,524 mm (5 ft)
Riga–Valga train between Melturi and Āraiši stations.

The Riga–Lugaži Railway is a 166 kilometres (103 mi) long,[2] 1,524 mm (5 ft) gauge railway in Latvia. It was built in the late 19th century (commencing in 1886) to connect the cities of Riga and Saint Petersburg via Valga and Pskov. The railway was opened in 1889.[1]

The final station in Latvia is Lugaži (near Valka). The railway was last used for the Riga–Saint Petersburg service in 1998, after which St Petersburg trains operated via Rēzekne. For several years there were no cross-border services, and trains terminated at Lugaži, but since 2008 a regular passenger service again operates from Riga to Valga in Estonia twice a day, with an onward connection to Tallinn via a train in Estonia. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Riga-Lugaži railway cut services to Valga, with trains ending in Lugaži. Service was restored in May 2020.

Starting from December 15, 2024, the passenger carrier "Vivi" will adjust the departure time of the Riga-Valga diesel train to the arrival time of the Lithuanian "LTG Link" diesel train Vilnius-Riga. In turn, from January 6, 2025, the arrival time of the Riga-Valga diesel train will be adjusted to the departure time of the Estonian "Elron" diesel train Valga-Tartu-Tallinn. It is expected that the transfer time will be approximately 10 to 20 minutes.

Stations

[edit]
Station Locale
Rīga Riga
Zemitāni
Čiekurkalns
Šmerlis
Jugla
Batlezers (Former) Garkalne municipality
Garkalne
Krievupe
Vangaži Inčukalns municipality
Inčukalns
Egļupe Sigulda municipality
Silciems (Former)
Sigulda
Līgatne Līgatne municipality
Ieriķi Amata municipality
Melturi
Āraiši
Cēsis Cēsis municipality
Jāņmuiža Priekuļi municipality
Lode Rūjiena municipality
Bāle (Former) Beverīna municipality
Valmiera Valmiera municipality
Brenguļi (Former) Beverīna municipality
Strenči Strenči municipality
Seda (Former)
Saule (Former) Valka municipality
Lugaži
Valga Estonia

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Latvijas dzelzceļu līnijas" [Latvian railway lines] (in Latvian). Latvian Railway History Museum. Archived from the original on 2010-08-19. Retrieved 2010-10-09.
  2. ^ a b "Publiskās lietošanas dzelzceļa infrastruktūras pārskats 2011" [2011 Public Railway Infrastructure Overview] (PDF) (in Latvian). Latvian Railways. 2010-06-05. p. 36. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 9, 2011. Retrieved 2010-10-09.