Since the end of November last year, when the first Rail Baltica construction site was built in Riga near the Central Station, opposite the Ministry of Transport, the construction works of the Rail Baltica Central junction have been carried out – reconstruction and relocation of railway engineering systems and city engineering networks.
On March 30, Minister of Transport Tālis Linkaits and the director of international business of the largest construction company in Belgium, Besix Group, Matties Desamps, visited the construction site at Riga Central Station to see how the construction works at the Rail Baltica central hub are taking place.
Works at the Riga Central Hub are organized in two major stages: first, everything on the south side of the station is built – tracks, platforms, platform canopies, the new station building, the embankment has to be completely excavated, the railway overpass has to be built and street areas have to be completely rebuilt. Construction in the southern area will take place until the end of 2023, when the southern part of the new building of the Riga Central Railway Station and also the new tracks will be handed over to passengers and train operators.
From 2024 to 2025, construction work will take place on the other side of the railway tracks – the station square – or in the northern part, rebuilding the existing tracks, passenger platforms, street overpasses and the station building itself. Simultaneously with these works, a new railway and pedestrian / bicycle bridge over the Daugava up to Jelgavas Street will be built.
“Rail Baltica The project gives us the opportunity to rebuild Riga Central Station into a modern, multifunctional and beautiful central transport hub of the capital, while improving the convenience and accessibility of the public transport service. The reconstruction of the station is planned so that throughout the construction process until the end of 2025 Riga Central Railway Station will continue to provide services to passengers: trains could continue to run, adjusting their schedule for construction works, as well as passengers will be served in the station building. However, I urge Rigans and guests of Riga to be tolerant and take into account the possible inconveniences that will arise during the construction works. I am sure that as a result we will appreciate the benefits that these changes will bring us, ”says the Minister of Transport Tālis Linkaits.
“The construction project of Riga Central Railway Station is complicated from the point of view of work organization due to two circumstances. First of all, we are building in the very center of Riga, which means that the area is physically limited and we have to reckon with very dense surrounding buildings, communications and various infrastructure. Secondly, the construction work must be organized in such a way that the operation of the Central Station does not stop until it is completed. Minor inconveniences are possible, but the station will continue to serve passengers, ”comments the builders’ representative.
The construction plan of the Riga Central Junction envisages the introduction of the European gauge railway in the center of Riga, building four new tracks, ensuring the service of Rail Baltica international and airport connecting trains, as well as Latvian regional (intercity and suburban) trains.
A modern, aesthetically pleasing and convenient station infrastructure on three levels will also be created. The existing five platforms or platforms will be complemented by two new platforms: all platforms will be upgraded, improving the convenience of both gauge railway users when boarding trains. There will be canopies above the platforms. Stairs, 12 elevators and 22 escalators will lead to each of the platforms. After the construction, wider tunnels will be available for pedestrians. New premises with an area of 6000 m 6000 will also be built above the platforms, where it will be possible to place commercial premises, toilets, cash registers, various auxiliary rooms, luggage storage, etc. The station also includes an Air-To-Rail solution or luggage transit lanes. airports to the station and vice versa – without passenger involvement. The new project also significantly increases the safety parameters of the station as an important civil infrastructure object.
At the existing embankment, a trestle will be created in the section from the bus station and from the Riga Central Railway Station to Elizabetes Street, along which railway traffic will be organized in the future. Demolition of the embankment will give Riga new features, visually and functionally connecting the cities that have been separated from the railway embankment so far: Old Riga with Latgale suburbs. It will also connect Elizabeth Street with Timothy Street.
A new, one-kilometer-long bridge with two tracks over the Daugava and the small Daugava will be built, which can also be used by pedestrians and cyclists.
In the vicinity of Riga Central Railway Station, the green areas and landscaped multifunctional areas accessible to the citizens will also increase significantly. For example, the area of squares will increase from 1316 m² to 4454 m². It is planned that the reconstruction of the Riga Central Railway Station complex, the construction of the railway bridge over the Daugava and the infrastructure will be fully completed in 2025.
The works will be carried out by the winner of an international tender – the construction company BERERIX, consisting of Belgium’s largest construction company BESIX Group, the national builder RERE Būve and the Italian company Rizzani de Eccher, the design and construction supervision will be supervised by construction engineers from Egis-Deutche Bahn , but the expertise of the construction project is provided by local experts from “Firma L4”.
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