The Riga City Council did not make a decision on the extension and expansion of the pilot project for the unified ticket for trains and urban transport. The issue is postponed until the ticket price for passengers on suburban routes is determined.
Residents of Riga and the suburbs will have to wait a little longer for a decision on the future of the unified ticket, which allows the use of trains and public transport in the capital with a single travel document. On Wednesday, the Riga City Council postponed the consideration of extending the pilot project until the end of 2026.
The reason for this was the uncertainty regarding the tariffs. As explained by the local government, the Public Transport Council has not yet approved the cost of the unified ticket for the expanded project area, which is expected to cover railway zones B, C, D, and E. It is anticipated that after a decision on the tariffs is made, the issue will be brought back to the deputies for consideration, presumably in July.
Currently, the unified ticket operates in a limited format. It was planned that its use would later extend to all five railway zones — from zone A to zone E. For passengers, this would mean more convenient trips between Riga and many settlements in the capital region without the need to purchase separate tickets for trains and urban transport.
Simplifying transfers is considered one of the main goals of the project.
What is important for passengers: there have been no changes in the current procedure for using the unified ticket. This is not about canceling the project, but rather about postponing the decision on its further development.
The pilot project was launched in 2025 as part of a broader idea to create an integrated public transport system in the Riga agglomeration. The local government believes that the unified ticket helps make public transport more attractive, reduces the use of private cars, and simplifies movement between Riga and the suburbs.
To continue the project, amendments will need to be made to the agreement between the local government, Pasažieru vilciens, Autotransporta direkcija, and Rīgas satiksme.
Thus, the very idea of the unified ticket remains, but the final decision on its expansion will depend on what the new tariff for passengers on suburban railway routes turns out to be.
