Starting February 28 of this year, the fifth phase of work on the modernization of the electrified network begins on the Tukums railway line. Due to construction work on the line, a new train schedule will be introduced, and in some services on the Zolitūde-Dubulti section, passengers will be transported by buses by Vivi.
At the same time, there will be changes in the schedule for several trains on the Jelgava and Aizkraukle lines. Latvijas dzelzceļš plans to complete this phase of work by April 10.
During this period, passengers on the Tukums line will be able to use:
- trains on the Riga–Tukums II route, which will run every 1 hour and 5 minutes;
- combined services on the Riga–Dubulti route, where passengers will be transported by buses on the Zolitūde–Dubulti section;
- additional combined services on the Riga–Tukums II (departure at 6:00) and Tukums I–Riga (departure at 6:18) routes, where two transfers will be required, as passengers will be transported by buses on the Zolitūde–Dubulti section. Vivi urges passengers to familiarize themselves with the new schedule in advance and to plan extra time, as the schedule may change due to road conditions, weather, or technical reasons.
Departure times will change on the Jelgava and Aizkraukle lines
The repair work on the Tukums line will also affect train movements on the Jelgava and Aizkraukle lines. The schedule will change for some trains, but all services will be maintained. Vivi asks passengers to check the departure and arrival times of their chosen train before traveling.
At the Kemeri and Sloka stations, trains will wait for opposing trains
To allow for the passage of an opposing train, some trains in Vivi's schedule will include waiting times. In the morning, trains heading towards Tukums will wait at the Kemeri station for about 25 minutes, while in the afternoon, trains heading towards Riga will wait at the Sloka station for about 15 minutes. Passengers are asked to remain in their seats during this time.
There will be eight stops on the bus section of the Tukums line
Bus stops in Zolitūde and Imanta in both directions will be located at existing city bus stops on Rostokas Street. In Babīte: buses heading towards Riga will use the existing stop "Babītes stacija," while those heading towards Dubulti will use the stop "Rododendru audzētava" on the A5 highway (Riga bypass road).
Some stops will remain in the same locations as in the previous phase of work. In Lielupe, stops in both directions will be at existing city stops on Vienības Avenue, in Bulduri — on Meža Avenue, in Jūrmala — towards Riga on Edinburgh Avenue, and towards Tukums on Meža Avenue, in Majori — on Lienes Street, and in Dubulti — on Zigfrīds Meierovics Avenue. During this phase, the bus will not stop in Priedaine.
Passengers will be able to transfer from the train to the bus in both Imanta and Zolitūde. However, at each of these stops, the transfer will only be convenient in one direction, as the bus and train schedules will be coordinated. A convenient transfer from trains to buses will be provided in Zolitūde towards Dubulti, while the transfer from buses to trains towards Riga will be in Imanta.
Coordinated schedules mean that if a train is delayed, the bus will leave the stop only after the train arrives and passengers have transferred. If the bus is delayed, the train will wait for passengers to ensure a convenient transfer. Both buses and trains will wait for each other to make the journey comfortable and uninterrupted.
Trains will depart from different tracks
But even this does not conclude the "fun challenges" offered to passengers. Before starting their journey, passengers should check from which platform their specific train departs, as some tracks will be closed due to repair work. The train heading towards Riga at the Babīte, Priedaine, Lielupe, Bulduri, Jūrmala, and Majori stops will depart from track 1.
Tickets cannot be purchased on buses, and the transportation of strollers is limited
As with previous phases of work, during this period, purchased train tickets will be valid for travel on buses, and their price will not change, but tickets cannot be purchased on the bus. Vivi urges passengers to buy tickets in advance — on the Vivi website, in the Vivi Latvija mobile app, at ticket offices, or from other sellers.
Bicycles cannot be transported on buses, and Vivi will provide transportation for passengers with strollers as much as possible. However, it should be noted that buses are not equipped for such needs, so movement may be inconvenient. Vivi recommends an alternative — the train, which runs every 1 hour and 5 minutes to/from Tukums, or regional public transport, where such options are available. If it is still necessary to travel on the bus organized by Vivi, passengers are asked to seek assistance from the driver or those around them to lift or carry the stroller.
The repair work is being carried out in several phases, and the restrictions on train movement will vary at each stage. All participants plan and organize changes to minimize passenger inconvenience. The schedule may change depending on the progress of the work, but passengers will be informed of all changes in advance.
The schedule published on the Vivi website and in the mobile app includes all current changes.
For questions regarding the schedule, ticket purchases, and other travel-related inquiries, Vivi suggests contacting the Customer Service Center at the 24-hour toll-free number 8760.
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