Latvian Railway - experienced in dealing with freight and passenger traffic.

Latvian Railway’s international trains travel from Latvia to Lithuania, Estonia, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Poland.

The Latvian Railway (State Joint-Stock Company " Latvijas Dzelzcels" - 'LDZ'), is very experienced in dealing with freight and passenger traffic, with experience going back to the second half of the last century, when the first railway lines appeared in the Latvian territory. Today, LDZ is the most stable Latvian Transport Company, the arterial road of Latvian transit.

LDZ covers 2413 km, and it is the main link among the Latvian Ports of Ventspils, Riga and Liepaja, and the final points of freight reception -- dispatch to CIS countries and other continental regions.

Due to the convenient geographical location of LDZ, the freights are freely delivered from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Mid Asia, Kazakhstan, China, countries of the Caucasus region and the Middle East, South-East Asia and so on. On the western side, freights are delivered through the Ports of Latvia to the rest of Western Europe.

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Oil products, chemicals, fertilizers, metals and timber are the basic materials in Latvian Railway freight structure.

Three-fourths of the transportation services are related to transit consignments, and more than 90% of them are in the East-West-East lines. Local transportation composes of only 6%. Oil and oil products, chemicals, fertilizers, metals and timber are the basic materials in the freight structure.

In 1997 the overall freight volume transported by LDZ reached 41 million tonnes which is 16,3% more than that of 1996.

LDZ has necessary technical equipment and experienced staff to load and unload freights effectively according to international standards. LDZ has reserved large carrying capacity, and are carefully working on its development. A step-by-step investment programme aimed at increasing the freight volumes on the main transport corridor (East - West) has been worked out. It is estimated that by the year 2010, freight volumes will be increased up to 60 million tonnes, which is times more than that of 1997.

LDZ has reserve storehouses available for rent, and automatic information system of freight carrying operations provides efficient traffic control that enables us to give the client prompt and accurate information about freight arrival time.

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Latvian Raiway is the arterial road of latvian transit and more than 90 % transportation services are in the East-West line.

In 1997 container transportation in special container trains from Riga to Moscow were launched.

We have more than 400 refrigerator wagons to carry quick-spoiling freights.

LDZ is well experienced in carrying dangerous freights, which compose a great deal of the total materials being transported.

The determination of freight tariffs are according to the Combined International Transit System. The freight rate regulations and individual approach to every client allow LDZ to offer better rates than neighbouring countries.

Total passenger rail movements have been reduced. In 1997 LDZ handled 33 million passengers. Nevertheless, the LDZ staff is constantly working to improve on passengers' service and to satisfy clients' demand. Today international trains travel from Latvia to Lithuania, Estonia, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Poland.

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Mr. Andris Zorgevics,
General Director of Latvian Railway

We have close relationship with the neighbouring railroads of Russia, Lithuania, Belarus and Estonia with whom we have not only the common gauge (1520 mm) but also common transportation technology. LDZ is an associated member of the Railway Council of CIS and the Baltic States, and also a member of the Organisation of Railway Co-operation and International Union of Railways.

We are working hard to raise our railway to a new quality level and we are also ready to offer good services.