[BriedisUnIzlietne]

LDz to modernize 16 stations

It seems that LDz has found some more money so instead of the initial 13 there will actually be 16 stations that will be modernized.
The modernization includes construction of new, 550 mm high platforms, new information systems and CCTV.

The picture is only for illustrative purposes. It is a small station (11 houses within 1km radius) Ozolsala on the line to Krustpils that is currently being modernized. Picture by Juris Stalažs.

The majority of the stations to be modernized will be in the resort town of Jūrmala where out of the 11 stations located in the main part of the city 10 will be modernized. 3 more will be modernized in the e-talons electronic ticket zone of Rīga on the same line to Jūrmala. While the last three will be on the line to Jelgava.

Stations to be modernized: Zolitūde, Imanta, Babīte, Lielupe, Bulduri, Dzintari, Majori, Dubulti, Pumpuri, Melluži, Asari, Vaivari, Sloka, Olaine, Cukurfabrika, Jelgava. (map)

http://www.sam.gov.lv/?cat=8&art_id=4073

 

[BriedisUnIzlietne]

PV to modernize 6 DMUs

PV (Passenger train) has signed a 21,98 million euro contract with the local RVR, VRC Zasulauks and Daugavpils LRR for the modernization of 6 DR1A DMUs until 2015.

The modernized trains will be made accessible for disabled persons, will feature new doors, seats, information systems, climate control, even more space for bicycles, CCTV and Wi-Fi. 5 of the trains will have a Comfort class compartment with 16 seats.

There will also be new engines, electrical equipment and cab controls. The trains will have a new livery and there will be made some alterations to the body of the trains so IMO there will probably be a facelift. So the end result should look like this:

Last year PV has had an increase in passenger amounts

This is the first time that passenger amounts have grown since 2007! The increase was by just 12 872 passengers compared to last year so the total amount of passengers carried in 2013 was 19,42 million.

The main reason for the increase was the warm summer but 2013 also saw the first trains with Comfort class compartments and the introduction of Wi-Fi as well as e-talons electronic ticket system in Rīga. Since today the e-talons system in Rīga is fully operational. Before today only scholars, pensioners and disabled persons could use the system.

 

[BriedisUnIzlietne]

Train procurement update

Pasažieru vilciens

Currently Hyundai is with a very good chance of beating Stadler in our train procurement - from the currently possible maximum of 790 points Hyundai currently could have about 750 while Stadler only 568 points. The end result will determine the winner.

http://www.db.lv/sodien-laikraksta/cina-par-vilcienu-pasutijumu-saasinas-412847
----------------
LDz

LDz have announced the procurement for a heavy freight draisine and for 3 more modernized ČME3M locomotives (as in the picture above).

There is also a picture of the second LDz's new booster ČME3MB-02 (in the picture below).

http://www.ldz.lv/

 

[Rebasepoiss]

^^ I hope Hyundai wins the procurement. That would bring some diversity to the rolling stock in this region. Stadler Flirt is too common :lol:

 

[XAN_]

Well, first experience of Hyundai in 1520 EMU area was kinda disastrous.

 

[Eiropro]

Well, first experience of Hyundai in 1520 EMU area was kinda disastrous.

I heard Ukraine has big problems with them. What is warranty time for a train?

 

[XAN_]

I heard Ukraine has big problems with them. What is warranty time for a train?

2 years, warranty for the first batch of train would end this spring.

 

[Nexis]

Well, first experience of Hyundai in 1520 EMU area was kinda disastrous.

What were the issues with those trains?

 

[XAN_]

What were the issues with those trains?

At first trains expected frequent pantograph breakdowns and frequent freezing of undercar equipment. After fixing these problems, cracks in bodies and bogies were found, so now all trains are withdrawn from service.
Inspection of track and catenary along the route revealed, that while they are less favourable to a train that common in Europe for example, they are totally within the characteristics provided in contract.

 

[BriedisUnIzlietne]

Some photos of Aizkraukle station reconstruction, Muldakmens stop reconstruction and doubling of the Skrīveri - Muldakmens part.
(made by user Виктор of parovoz.com)

Aizkraukle station. Current end of overhead electrification. The station now has a slightly changed track layout with all new tracks, signaling, platforms and overhead wire infrastructure.

Looking towards Rīga.

3 km long Aizkraukle - Muldakmens double track section.

5 km long Muldakmens - Skrīveri section. The section that is undergoing doubling.

 

[BriedisUnIzlietne]

RVR is now under new management

Now the factory will focus on suburban EMU's and low floor trams for the developing countries. It's been a very long time since a new train model has been projected in the factory - everything was based on the 70ies DR1 and ER1 projects.

Recently the factory has been involved in producing crew trains for Russian railways and currently is building very minimalistic-looking tourist trains for Novij Afin:

The factory along with two others is also currently modernizing our Pasažieru vilciens' DMUs:

 

[BriedisUnIzlietne]

A small compilation of Latvian level crossing incident CCTV footage. If you only want to see what happens when 5300 tonnes of freight train hit an idiotic pedestrian, fast forward to 0:40.

Don't give in to the devils!

 

[Tin_Can]

Heh,quite nostalgic sight - those are our old electric trains which were sold to RVR. I wonder what they are going to do with those.

 

[Theijs]

Those are our old electric trains which were sold to RVR. I wonder what they are going to do with those.

they will be refurbished and sold to a central Asian country within the CIS. I forgot its name.

 

[BriedisUnIzlietne]

Money stuff

The government won't take dividends from Latvian Railways' 2013 revenue this year so the company can spend all of its revenue (79,9 million euro) on continuing the major infrastructure projects including but not limited to Bolderāja 1 - Zasulauks resignalling, Bolderāja 2 station and connecting rail link to Krievu sala construction, Skrīveri - Krustpils double tracking and Šķirotava hump yard reconstruction.

There will also be a bunch of new projects to be completed by the end of 2015 at a cost of 159,1 million euro (of which most is EU funding; only 29,7 millions will be LDz money)

 

[BriedisUnIzlietne]

Rīga Krasta bypass

The short new section of Rīga Krasta station bypass, linking Rīga Preču station with Kundziņsala port terminals, has recently been completed. Currently it is used only by some trains during the night, but in time the station Rīga Krasta will be closed entirely, and all train traffic will use the new bypass.

Looking towards Rīga Krasta (tracks to the left) the bypass branches off to the right

Looking towards Rīga Preču

Diamonds with a short industrial branch

Entry to the port territory

 

[BriedisUnIzlietne]

Turns out that the bypass isn't opened yet. It will be opened on 16th of June.

And there was some more info about it:
Currently Rīga Krasta station is used over capacity, handling up to 13 pairs of trains every day while it is projected to handle just 8. And with a prognosed increase in freight volume this needed to be solved. Currently only 2 trains run to the Kundziņsala terminals. But a rise to 5 is projected after the opening of the bypass. And that number will grow as the port grows.

 

[BriedisUnIzlietne]

Gr-319 has been restored

After 6 years of repairs and restoration works the 65 year old 750 mm narrow gauge steam locomotive Gr-319 has been restored. On the 13th of June important people gathered for the naming of the locomotive. The locomotive will now be known as Ferdinands.

This is how it looked before repairs:

 

[Slartibartfas]

Where is that steam locomotive in use, or is it in use? Is it some heritage narrow gauge line? Steam locomotives are getting fewer and fewer, also on heritage lines. I do understand the reasons for that of course, the technology is outdated after all, but these locomotives are such a great thing for eg children. Its technology alive where you can still see and understand what is going on (at least the basic principle). In our modern world where everything is getting increasingly abstract, but steam locomotives do not feel abstract at all.

 

[BriedisUnIzlietne]

The locomotive was given to us by the Estonian museum railway and will be used on special occasions (festivals) on our 33 km Gulbene - Alūksne narrow gauge railway. It is a heritage railway, but it serves the small villages with two trains in both directions every day, unlike most heritage railways in the region, which run only on weekends. The ticket is just 3,41 euros. But the trains are usually pulled by diesel locomotives:

The only railway in Latvia with steam locomotives in regular service is the Ventspils museum railway which uses two 600 mm gauge Brigadelok locomotives: Ml-611 and Ml-631:

As for children - Rīga used to have a children's railway - a railway almost entirely operated by children. But it closed in 1997. Most locomotives and rolling stock were taken to Gulbene - Alūksne railway.