Latvia’s Rail Baltica implementing body, Eiropas Dzelzceļa līnijas, and Besix Rere Group, a Latvian-Belgian consortium, signed the contract for the design and construction works of Riga railway bridge, railway embankment and Riga Central passenger station. EUR 430.54 million was consortium’s bid price. Financing of this project within the limits of 81–85% is provided by the Connecting Europe Facility, while the remaining funds are provided from the state budget of Latvia.
Besix Rere Group will perform design and construction works on the basis of the solution provided by the architectural company PLH Arkitekter in cooperation with Cowi (Denmark). It includes 2.6 km long standard gauge railway line in Riga, 6 new railway overpasses as well as a new 1 km long bridge over the River Daugava and Little Daugava. The existing railway embankment will be removed in sections between Central Coach Station and Stockmann department store and between Riga Central railway station and Elizabetes Street.
The contract provides for organisation of works in four stages. Design starts after conclusion of the contract, which is to be completed in the first half of 2021, and construction works in the Southern part of Riga Central Passenger station must be commenced in the second half of the aforementioned year, followed by commencement of works in the Northern part at a later date. Organisation of works in stages will help to avoid interruptions in city or railway traffic.
Along with the introduction of standard gauge railway to the centre of Riga the station infrastructure compliant with modern requirements and aesthetically attractive station infrastructure and multi-modal transport hub will be created. The four current platforms will be added by a new one, with all five platforms to be elevated, improving convenience of users of both gauge railways, when boarding the trains. Canopies will be built over the platforms. New premises of the area of approximately 6000 m2 for waiting rooms, facilities, cash-desks, luggage storage etc. will be built above the platforms. Turnstiles will be arranged for the ticket holders to access to the platforms.
The multi-modal transport hub will create more convenient connections with public transport system, including the construction of new cycling path on the new bridge over the River Daugava connecting both banks of the river.
At the end of 2018, two tenderers submitted their applications under the second phase of the tender. The Besix Rere Group, and “ITL Rail Baltica” association, with a EUR 545.45 million offer.
Share on:
