A/S Pasazieru Vilciens (JSC Passenger Train) submitted in 2005 to the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Latvia a national ERAF programme “The development of railway passenger service in the city of Riga from 2005 to 2013”.
Within the framework of this programme, the project “Modernization of existing trains” is being carried out and a “Feasibility study on acquisition of new trains” has been launched. The planned project sum amounts to 829 thousand lats, 75% of which is ERAF funding.
The purpose of the project is as follows:
- To carry out an analysis of railway passenger traffic;
- To forecast the further demand for passenger services by taking into consideration of various development factors;
- To tackle the acquisition issues of new electric multiple-unit trains;
- To carry out an analysis on how the railway infrastructure corresponds to the new electric multiple-unit trains;
- To develop an introduction strategy for the new rolling stock of the new electric multiple-unit trains, considering the safety and environmental requirements;
- To prepare a financing and business plan;
- To submit an action plan based on the results of the feasibility study;
There has been a working group established for the implementation of the project; that will accomplish the project aims above.
It is foreseen to launch the project in January 2007 and to complete it in December 2007.