“You can’t rely on trains”: passengers doubt the reliability of “Vivi” in winter 0 9

The electric train services are delayed this winter as well, raising concerns about whether the 32 trains produced by the Czech company "Škoda Vagonka" have been adapted to Latvian conditions. At the joint-stock company "Pasažieru vilciens" (PV), which transports passengers by train under the "Vivi" brand, efforts are being made to dispel these concerns.

A resident of Tukums, who works in Riga, told "Latvijas Avīze" about her recent trip on the electric train. Usually, the woman drives to the capital, but her car was in service, so she decided to take the train. She attempted to reach Riga by electric train twice, but both times unsuccessfully.

On Saturday, January 31, a planned family trip by train from Tukums I station (at 13:50) turned into a tiring wait and ended with a return home. Initially, the station reported a slight delay, but then the deviation from the schedule only increased. Similarly, her trip to work in Riga on the morning of February 2 ended in disappointment. The train that was supposed to depart from Tukums I station at 6:04 never appeared. The woman returned home and took the opportunity to work remotely.

"You can’t rely on trains," concludes the resident of Tukums, adding that "in the old days, the wind and snow blew through all the cracks in the trains, but they ran on schedule."

At the same time, she does not lose hope that the situation will improve and the railway will regain its main advantage - punctuality.

PV acknowledged that on Monday, train services were delayed on several lines. The Tukums II - Riga service at 5:46 was canceled for technical reasons. Repair work is ongoing on the Tukums line and at the Zemgale station, limiting access to the tracks, so any disruptions in the movement of one train affect subsequent services. On the Riga-Priedaine and Riga-Jelgava sections, diesel trains were used for passenger transport on Monday morning.

Currently, the schedule is being maintained by 24 out of 32 electric trains from "Škoda Vagonka." "The new electric trains are adapted to the climatic conditions of Latvia, including the winter period. Their operation in the winter season confirms that the technical condition of the trains meets the requirements," said PV representative Sigita Paula, noting that it should be considered that external factors unrelated to the technical condition of the trains can affect train movements on certain sections.