First electric units Škoda 16Ev start regular operation in Latvia

The first electric Škoda 16Ev units of the Latvian national carrier Vienā vilcienā (VIVI) have just gone into service with passengers in Riga. It happened at Riga Central Station at 10.58 local time in the presence of the Minister of Transport Kaspars Briškens. The delivery of the last train unit will take place in mid-2024.

“We are pleased that after the hard work of all our colleagues we have managed to cope with the impact of the covid-19 pandemic and the Russian aggression in Ukraine. Thanks to the efforts of our entire extended team, we stand here today with the first units ready to carry passengers. At this point, I would like to express my sincere thanks to all colleagues involved in the implementation of this contract. It would not have been possible without you. I would also like to thank the customer, with whom there is great cooperation, and also the representatives of Latvia. I believe that from now on, all passengers will enjoy travelling with the new units with pleasure,” commented Zdeněk Sváta, Member of the Board of Directors of Škoda Group.

Chairman of the Board of JSC "Pasažieru vilciens" Rodgers Jānis Grigulis said: “At this time when we thank a number of partners who have supported us on the way to these trains, in their testing, certification and training of employees, I would like to say special thanks to every employee of joint stock company “Pasažieru vilciens” - both those who were directly involved in the delivery process of electric trains and those who through their daily work have ensured that the train service is already highly appreciated by passengers today. Together, we are taking a big step forward in the development of train travel and we continue to work to ensure that more and more passengers choose to travel by train, ensuring regional accessibility, helping the country to meet its mobility goals and passengers to have a more pleasant experience.”

Wide gauge Panter
Škoda Group supplies a total of 32 fully passenger-ready electric trains on 1520 mm gauge to Latvia. The new trains are based on the well-known RegioPanter in the Czech Republic, but they have been adapted to the possibilities in Latvia, so in addition to the wide gauge, they also have a larger width and can accommodate more passengers. Each vehicle consists of four coaches. One electric train is 109 metres long and has 436 seats. The trains have single-level boarding for passengers from the platforms, which will not only make the service more accessible to all, but also reduce the time it takes for passengers to transfer at stops. In addition, wider train doors will help speed up boarding and alighting.

The new electric trains are fully air-conditioned, have ergonomic seats and modern equipment. They are equipped with video and audio information systems and powerful Wi-Fi connectivity. Their operation will be smoother and their cabins will have lower noise levels than those currently in use. The new trains have a design speed of up to 160 km/h (currently 120 km/h). In the future, the maximum speed will be possible on sections where the railway infrastructure allows it.

Thanks to the new electric trains from Škoda Group, VIVI will be able to introduce interval timetables on all routes of these trains. This means that trains will run every 15 to 20 minutes on weekday mornings and evenings, which are traditionally the busiest times. The new trains will run in the direction of Aizkraukle, Tukums, Skulte and Jelgava.

www.skodagroup.com

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