News

State capital companies

SJSC “Latvijas dzelzceļš”

“Latvijas dzelzceļš” is powerful and modern group of transport, logistics and technology companies the basic activity of which is provision of a competitive railway infrastructure, due to this it is strategically important to the Latvian economy. The company has already been contributing to the national economy for 100 years by ensuring that the railway infrastructure can be used in transporting large amounts of freights and passengers. Day by day the group of companies implements its vision — to become the leading group of logistics companies in the Baltic by developing the local economy in the long term and implementing global ambitions on the basis of three key principles: “brave to act”, “step by step” and “it is all connected”.

The company’s stocks are owned by the State and the holder of State capital shares is the Ministry of Transport. SJSC “Latvijas dzelzceļš” is the leading company in this group consisting of this and another six dependant companies: Ltd. “LDz Cargo” provides rail freight transport and international passenger transport, Ltd. “LDz Loģistika” offers freight forwarding and logistics services, the main activities of Ltd. “LDz Ritošā sastāva serivss” are related to technical maintenance, repair and modernisation, servicing of the railway rolling stock and storage of fuel and sale thereof to rail carriers, Ltd. “LDz Infrastruktūra” specialises in rail construction and renovation, Ltd. “LDz apsardze” provides physical and technical security services, while the main task of JSC “LatRailNet” is to carry out the essential functions of the manager of public railway infrastructure.

E.Benjamiņas str. 3, Riga, LV-1547, Latvia. Telephone +371 67234940, website: www.ldz.lv, email: info@ldz.lv


SJSC “Pasažieru vilciens”

VAS “Pasažieru vilciens” is the only provider of domestic public rail transport service. The company offers electric train traffic between Riga and Jelgava, Skulte, Aizkraukle and Tukums, and diesel multiple unit connections to Daugavpils, Madona, Gulbene, Krustpils, Sigulda, Valga, Rēzekne, Zilupe and Liepāja.

V.Purviša str. 14, Riga, LV-1547, Latvia. Telephone +371 67234009, website: www.pv.lv, email: pv@pv.ldz.lv


Institutions

State Railway Administration

The State Railway Administration is a direct administration institution, subordinate to the Ministry of Transport, and it carries out State administration in the railway sector.

The main functions of the State Railway Administration is to issue licences to rail freight carriers, harmonise draft agreements on rail freight transport, promote efficient and rational operation of carriers, settle disagreements between the manager of the public railway infrastructure and the carriers, promote competitiveness in the rail transport and monitor the freight transport and the market, ensure the operation of the State Railway Infrastructure (Track) Register and of the State Railway Rolling Stock Register, develop the railway environmental protection policy and the action programme, assess the risks caused by the railway infrastructure to human health and environment and to take the necessary measures to reduce these risks, give opinion on the closure of separate public railway track sections or railway tracks, and other.

Riepnieku iela 2, Riga, LV-1050, Latvia. Telephone +371 67233225, website: www.vda.gov.lv, email: vda@vda.gov.lv


State Railway Technical Inspectorate

The State Railway Technical Inspectorate carries out the control and monitoring of the railway technical exploitation in Latvia. The Inspectorate is independent from carriers, railway infrastructure managers and performers of railway public procurements organisationally, legally and in terms of decision making procedure. Implementation of the Inspectorate’s functions is strictly regulated by the EU legislation. The State Railway Technical Inspectorate is subordinate to the Ministry of Transport, and it was established to carry out State administration in the control and monitoring of the railway technical exploitation.

The State Railway Technical Inspectorate performs supervision of security systems at the railway commercial companies, both the manager of the public railway infrastructure and the managers of the privately-owned railway infrastructure are controlled. In addition, rail carriers and commercial companies carrying out construction, repair or maintenance of the rolling stock or infrastructure are also supervised. The State Railway Technical Inspectorate certifies drivers of traction engines, their assistants and drivers-instructors, advisors on safety and railway specialists. It examines railway construction plans, issue building permits for constructing rail construction objects and performs the formal acceptance on completion of construction, and accepts the railway rolling stock into operation.

Riepnieku iela 2, Riga, LV-1050, Latvia. Telephone +371 67234301, website: www.vdzti.gov.lv, email: Andris.dunskis@vdzti.gov.lv


Organisations

Latvian Association of Railway Workers

The mission of the Latvian Association of Railway Workers is to unite the railway enthusiasts and the nationally-minded railway patriots, to build the awareness of togetherness, to raise the prestige of railway workers by working for the benefit of Latvia, to promote development of a modern and safe railway sector, and to do all that while preserving and nurturing the centuries-old history and developing traditions.

Aims of the Association:

  • to maintain the railway transport history and traditions, to promote preserving of the railway historic monuments and industrial heritage;
  • to represent the professional, legal and social interests of its members, to improve the professional knowledge and skills of the specialists;
  • to activate international cooperation with other railway organisations;
  • to stir interest in young people on the railway by giving the opportunity to participate in processes related to the railway sector;
  • to strengthen the use of the official language in railway transport companies and everyday communication of railway workers;
  • to participate in processes that are related to the Latvia’s participation in the European Union, thus promoting the development of the railway sector in Latvia;
  • to cooperate with the State and municipal institutions.

Dzirnavu iela 147/3, Riga, LV-1050, Latvia. Telephone +371 67234681, website: www.ldzb.lv, emails: ldzb@ldz.lv , biedriba@ldz.lv


Latvian Trade Union of Railway Workers and Transport Sector

The Latvian Trade Union of Railway Workers and Transport Sector is an independent public organisation which unites workers on a voluntary basis that work in the field of railway transport, including engineering, telecommunications, transport and road construction, passenger and freight transport, logistics, transit cargo transport, freight forwarding, as well as commercial companies, institutions or organisations that serve this field or uses its services on a constant basis.

In total, the Trade Union unites more than 11 000 members and the main directions of activity are increasing wages and maintaining the level of employment and work places in the field.

Dzirnavu iela 147/a, Riga, LV-1050, Latvia. Telephone +371 67234466, website: www.ldzsa.lv, email: info@ldzsa.lv


 

International organisations

European Commission

Website: https://ec.europa.eu/transport/modes/rail_en

European Railway Agency

Website: http://www.era.europa.eu/Pages/Home.aspx

Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail

Website: http://www.otif.org/index.php?L=2

International Union of Railways (UIC)

Website: https://uic.org/

Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER)

Website: http://www.cer.be/

Organisation for Cooperation Between Railways (OSJD)

Website: http://www.osjd.org/