Latvian Railways

Latvian Railways, officially Latvijas dzelzceļš and commonly abbreviated LDz, is Latvia’s state-owned railway infrastructure company and the controlling entity of the Latvijas dzelzceļš Group. The company manages the public railway network in Latvia and provides the infrastructure, technical, property, communications and support services required for rail transport. Its ownership is held by the Republic of Latvia, with the state’s shares administered by the Ministry of Transport. The modern company was established on 2 September 1991 after Latvia restored its independence. Operational responsibility for the country’s public railway system was transferred to the state enterprise Latvijas dzelzceļš on 1 January 1992, and the enterprise was reorganized as a state-owned joint-stock company in 1993. LDz is regarded as the successor to the Latvian State Railways organization founded in 1919, although Latvia’s railway history extends back to the opening of the Riga–Daugavpils line in 1861. LDz’s central role is infrastructure management rather than direct operation of most passenger trains. Its responsibilities include maintaining and developing railway tracks, bridges, signaling and communications systems; managing train-path capacity; operating railway service facilities; supporting freight-wagon handling, inspection and maintenance; maintaining passenger stations and stops; and distributing and trading electricity. The group also has activities in real estate leasing, information technology, electronic communications and security services. The group’s structure reflects the separation of infrastructure, freight, logistics, rolling-stock and ancillary activities. LDZ Cargo handles rail freight and certain international passenger operations. LDZ Loģistika provides logistics and multimodal transport services. LDZ Infrastruktūra focuses on railway construction and maintenance, while LDZ Ritošā Sastāva Serviss repairs and maintains rolling stock. LDZ Apsardze provides security services, and LatRailNet performs infrastructure-capacity allocation and tariff-related functions. Passenger services were separated into Pasažieru vilciens, an independent state-owned company that later adopted the Vivi trade name. Historically, Latvia’s railway system developed as a strategic link between inland markets and the ports of Riga, Ventspils and Liepāja. Under the Russian Empire, multiple railway administrations operated lines across present-day Latvia. War damage during the First World War and the Latvian War of Independence was followed by reconstruction during the interwar republic. The network was again heavily damaged during the Second World War and subsequently rebuilt and modernized during the Soviet period. Electrification of suburban routes, dieselization of long-distance and freight operations, and the growth of Ventspils-related bulk cargo traffic were important features of the postwar system. For much of the Soviet period, Latvian railways formed part of the Baltic Railway Administration, whose headquarters were in Riga. Following independence, LDz inherited a large network and workforce and became a major national employer and transport institution. European Union accession encouraged organizational restructuring and the creation of specialized subsidiaries. In the twenty-first century, the group has faced the changing economics of transit freight, shifts in regional trade, European regulatory requirements, infrastructure modernization needs and the disruption of rail links associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. LDz positions itself as a provider of safe, efficient and sustainable railway infrastructure serving Latvia’s economy and society. Its activities include freight corridors, domestic passenger infrastructure, cross-border connections and railway heritage preservation through the Latvian Rail History Museum in Riga and Jelgava. The group’s present importance derives from its role as the natio…

Rail transport in the territory of present-day Latvia began with the opening of the Riga–Daugavpils line in 1861. The completion of the Saint Petersburg–Warsaw railway in 1862 made Daugavpils an important junction and connected the region to wider imperial transport networks. By 1880, approximately 800 kilometres of railway had been built. Private and state railways were gradually consolidated, and by the early twentieth century the Riga–Oryol Railway Administration had become one of the most significant operators in the territory. The Moscow–Ventspils railway opened in 1904 and strengthened the links between Latvia’s ports, Riga and inland industrial and commercial centres. Major reconstruction of the Riga railway junction began before the First World War, including new stations, connecting lines and a bridge over the Daugava. The war and the Latvian War of Independence caused extensive damage, although military narrow-gauge construction increased the overall track length temporarily. Following the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia, the Latvian Railways High Board was created on 5 August 1919. The Latvian state assumed control of most railways within its territory and operated them through Latvijas valsts dzelzceļi. During the interwar period, the network was rebuilt and modernized. International services reached Riga, new railway construction continued, stations were improved and modern signaling equipment was introduced. By 1940, hundreds of kilometres of new lines had been constructed, bridges and station buildings had been rebuilt, and the damage from the First World War had largely been repaired. The Soviet occupation in 1940 dissolved the Latvian railway administration and integrated the network into Soviet railway structures. The Second World War again inflicted severe damage on tracks, bridges, stations, signaling and communications. Reconstruction after the war included the electrification of suburban passenger routes, the introduction of diesel traction for freight and long-distance services, improved rolling stock and new bridges. From the 1960s through the 1980s, industrialization and the expansion of Ventspils port contributed to strong freight growth. From 1963, railways in Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and the Kaliningrad region were administered through the Soviet Baltic Railway Administration, headquartered in Riga. After Latvia restored independence, control of the public railway system passed to the state enterprise Latvijas dzelzceļš on 1 January 1992. The restored organization inherited approximately 2,364 kilometres of railway lines and a workforce of about 23,000 people. In 1993 it became a state-owned joint-stock company. Subsequent restructuring created specialized subsidiaries for passenger transport, security, freight, infrastructure, rolling-stock maintenance, logistics and infrastructure-capacity management. The restructuring accelerated around Latvia’s accession to the European Union. LDZ Cargo, LDZ Infrastruktūra and LDZ Ritošā Sastāva Serviss were established in 2005, LDZ Loģistika followed in 2008, and LatRailNet was created in 2010 to perform infrastructure-capacity and tariff functions. Passenger transport was separated into Pasažieru vilciens, which later adopted the Vivi trade name. In recent years, Latvian Railways has operated in a difficult regional environment. Traditional east–west freight flows have been affected by changing trade patterns, geopolitical tensions and sanctions. Passenger services have also been reshaped by the COVID-19 pandemic and the suspension or non-restoration of several connections involving Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. At the same time, LDz remains responsible for maintaining a strategically important national network, supporting domestic passenger services, freight traffic and Baltic cross-border connectivity. The company has published sustainability reports since 2016 and presents safety, efficiency and sustainable infrastructure development as core elements of its corporate mission.

1. 2023Pasažieru vilciens adopts the Vivi trade name

   The independent state passenger operator began using Vivi as its commercial name.

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2. 2010LatRailNet established

   A separate group company was created to manage infrastructure-capacity allocation and tariff functions.

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3. 2005Specialized group subsidiaries established

   LDZ Cargo, LDZ Infrastruktūra and LDZ Ritošā Sastāva Serviss were created during restructuring linked to European Union integration.

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4. 1992Public railway operations returned to the Latvian state

   The state enterprise Latvijas dzelzceļš assumed supervision and operation of Latvia’s public railway system.

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5. 1991Modern Latvijas dzelzceļš founded

   The modern Latvian state railway company was established after the restoration of independence.

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6. 1963Baltic Railway Administration formed

   Railways in Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and the Kaliningrad region came under a Soviet Baltic administration headquartered in Riga.

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7. 1940Latvian railway administration dissolved during Soviet occupation

   The occupation authorities ended the independent Latvian railway administration and incorporated the network into Soviet structures.

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8. 1919Latvian State Railways established

   The Latvian state created its railway administration and assumed control of most railways in the country.

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9. 1904Moscow–Ventspils railway opens

   The new line strengthened connections between Ventspils and inland markets.

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10. 1862Daugavpils becomes a railway junction

    Completion of the Saint Petersburg–Warsaw railway connected Daugavpils with a major regional rail corridor.

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11. 1861Opening of the Riga–Daugavpils railway

    The first independent railway line in the territory of present-day Latvia entered public service.

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A state-owned national railway infrastructure steward and integrated rail-logistics group, focused on safe, efficient and sustainable management of Latvia’s railway system.

• Public railway infrastructureInfrastructure management1991

  LDz manages Latvia’s public railway infrastructure, including tracks, bridges, stations, stops, signaling, communications and related operating facilities. It provides the network capacity on which passenger and freight operators depend and is responsible for maintenance, renewal and development of the system.

• Rail freight servicesFreight rail2005

  Freight activity within the group is centered on LDZ Cargo, which operates rail freight services and related transport activities. Freight trains use much of the Latvian network, including routes where passenger services have been reduced or suspended.

• Logistics and multimodal transportLogistics2008

  LDZ Loģistika provides logistics and multimodal transport services, extending the group’s role beyond railway traction and infrastructure to coordinated movement of cargo across transport modes.

• Infrastructure construction and maintenanceRail engineering2005

  LDZ Infrastruktūra performs railway construction and maintenance work, supporting track, civil-engineering and infrastructure-development requirements across the national network.

• Rolling-stock repair and maintenanceRailway technical services2005

  LDZ Ritošā Sastāva Serviss provides repair and maintenance services for rolling stock, helping keep locomotives, passenger equipment and freight-related equipment in operating condition.

• Railway securitySecurity services2003

  LDZ Apsardze provides security services for railway infrastructure and associated facilities within the group.

• Infrastructure capacity and tariffsRail regulation and access2010

  LatRailNet performs essential infrastructure-manager functions, including determining infrastructure tariffs and allocating railway capacity to users.

• 2020Suspension of international passenger servicesOther

  The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted cross-border passenger travel and led to the suspension of international rail services.

  What changed. International passenger routes connected with Latvia were suspended; several services were not restored after the pandemic because of geopolitical conditions and sanctions.

  Aftermath. Cross-border passenger connectivity was reduced, while domestic and selected Baltic connections continued to evolve.

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• 2010Establishment of LatRailNetStrategy

  Changes to Latvia’s railway law required essential infrastructure-manager functions to be organized separately within the group.

  What changed. LDz established LatRailNet as a joint-stock company responsible for infrastructure tariffs and capacity allocation.

  Aftermath. Infrastructure access and tariff functions received a dedicated organizational vehicle.

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• 2008Separation of logistics from freight operationsStrategy

  LDz separated logistics functions from its cargo business as part of the continuing group restructuring.

  What changed. The group established LDZ Loģistika for logistics and multimodal transport services.

  Aftermath. Logistics services gained a dedicated group company alongside the freight operator.

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• 2005Creation of specialized operating subsidiariesStrategy

  Latvia’s European Union integration and railway-sector restructuring encouraged separation of infrastructure, freight and rolling-stock functions.

  What changed. LDz established LDZ Cargo, LDZ Infrastruktūra and LDZ Ritošā Sastāva Serviss.

  Aftermath. The group developed a more specialized structure for freight, infrastructure engineering and rolling-stock services.

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• 1993Conversion into a state-owned joint-stock companyStrategy

  Following the restoration of independence, Latvia reorganized its railway administration to create a corporate structure capable of managing the national network and related commercial activities.

  What changed. The state enterprise Latvijas dzelzceļš was converted into a state-owned joint-stock company whose shares remained fully owned by the Republic of Latvia.

  Aftermath. The new legal form became the foundation for the Latvijas dzelzceļš Group and subsequent subsidiary restructuring.

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• 2024Management changes at Latvian Railways

  Artis Grinbergs became director after the 2023–2024 tenure of Rinalds Pļavnieks.

  Leadership change
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• 2020International passenger services disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic

  International rail passenger services connected with Latvia were suspended during the pandemic, and several routes were not restored afterward because of changing regional security and sanctions conditions.

  OtherRegulation
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• 2008Passenger-services subsidiary becomes independent

  Pasažieru vilciens became an independent, wholly state-owned joint-stock company after operating as LDz’s passenger-services division.

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• 1993Latvian Railways reorganizes its group structure after independence

  The state enterprise Latvijas dzelzceļš was transformed into a state-owned joint-stock company, establishing the corporate structure used by the modern group.

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1. Latvian Railways