a small milestone has been reached: Rīga-Jelgava is the first suburban line equipped entirely with 550 mm high platforms (at 3 stations these are temporary wooden platform height extensions)

Today Riga's new Ķengarags mobility hub enters full operations – with 43 departures per hour at peak: 16 trolleybus, 15 bus, 12 tram departures/hour. Same platform transfers to the new feeder bus route 18.

a bus stop with a view to the sea

due to severe heat reaching Latvia, 5 extra trains to Jūrmala seaside will be organized – this brings the total number of trains per day to 63, with 15-min headways most of the day! my own illustration of the timetable:

One of the more challenging days on the Latvian railway network - the return of people to Riga from the Līgo midsummer celebrations in the countryside. Every single available DMU is in use this evening.

Regional vibes

Made a list of a dozen railway speed improvements - ranging from organisational changes to electronic changes to concrete changes. Lets hope we succeed in getting at least some implemented!

Also do not trust a public transit planner who is a big nerd for old equipment and the "old ways"

Tfw we got Familia Sagrada before Rail Baltica

just Europoor things enjoying my months long paid sick leave, cheap mental health services and our gay little bicycle paths along our frequent electric commuter rail 😌😌😌

I realized that the design of Latvian Railways catenary masts are copied from russian railways. Not sure if it's a bad or neutral thing. Lithuania and Estonia use other designs.

the new tram and trolleybus extension to the new Ķengarags mobility hub

It's stunning how much bicycle infrastructure construction is planned in Riga in 2026! A coherent and quality network is in the making! Mostly thanks to EU funding, but not exclusively.

@750v-dc.bsky.social New 1,8 km trolleybus catenary under construction in Riga. To reduce (and eventually – eliminate) non-wired sections on the city's 2nd (some months – 1st) most popular trolleybus line No. 4.

oh how i remember drawing the 3D model for the Mangaļi station Park&Ride for the road engineers to show how to maximize both nature and parking spaces – and now it's a reality! only sad they went for asphalt, not pavers

With the end of engineering works that affected the Skulte line, tomorrow the regular symmetry minutes return to Riga Central, with improvements Arrivals: :21 – Aizkraukle/Lielvārde :23 – Skulte :25 – Jelgava :29 – Tukums Departures: :30 – Tukums :35 – Jelgava :38 – Skulte :39 – Aizkr./Lielvārde

@alonlevy.bsky.social You once mentioned that Riga should get an S-Bahn (and I agree). Here is a glimpse in how it could look like. 15 minute intervals are so lovely. Currently only during peak hours and summer weekends all day.

10 years of progress on Sigulda line timetables – and the current gradual implementation of takt timetable 2016 vs. from 26.05.2026 takt began to be implemented from 2021

yet more drone threats, yet more delayed trains due to that... and reduced capacity on other trains – I guess there's not enough trains available, when they're delayed in returning back to Riga

From today, the 15-min takt returns to Jūrmala! 🚃✨ The shiny new overhead catenary system is completed!

Yet another day in Latvia with the threat of drones – yet again affecting passenger rail services with trains being stopped for the duration of the air threat alert, this time including the international Vilnius-Riga-Tallinn services. ПТН ПНХ www.vivi.lv/lv/izmainas-...

I love how modern and stylish our infrastructure has gotten!

@chittimarco.bsky.social Some ideas to add to the TPA Toolbox M section: 1) Removal of bus bays on big urban streets w/o parking 2) A subset of M2: platforms that are not signal-protected (for countries with good driving culture) Such developments in Riga are widespread www.rdpad.lv/wp-content/u...

Helped some German tourists today on the train from Jūrmala by using one of the main words of the German language – Schienenersatzverkehr

drew my childhood's favourite train – the modernized ER2m-605

putting that planning degree to good use while on burnout

Riga scenes

Bicycle parking at Lielvārde station

Saulkrasti station mobility hub – one of the many under development in Latvia - Improved pedestrian and bike connections to station - Landscaping - Bus terminal for feeder buses - Covered bike parking (build it and they will come) - Kiss&Ride - Park&Ride - Even more bike parking

How not to be seen. The new green-roof traction substation for Riga tram line 11 at Mežaparks.

@chittimarco.bsky.social A temporary(?) public transport improvement during roadworks – one of the two left turn lanes towards a viaduct undergoing repairs has been turned into a public transport-only left turn lane.

@crzwdjk.bsky.social How are you so knowledgeable about so many things? I'm truly fascinated! :D

@crzwdjk.bsky.social In Latvia, such tactics via Telegram have now been used by Russian agents to arrange sabotage of our railways – burning relays and a even locomotive. In one instance, the perpetrator didn't even get paid – the middleman didn't forward the payment. bsky.app/profile/stej...

@chittimarco.bsky.social This week the Latvian parliament approved changes to the traffic rules to introduce modern European public transport traffic lights! Until now, only trams had special traffic lights.

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@chittimarco.bsky.social Americans: Front-door boarding! Latvians: Please don't use the front door at all in order to keep the drivers warm and comfortable during winter.

Rīga-Daugavpils train service in 2014 vs. 2025/2026

@jonworth.eu Fun facts about this train service: 1) It will be fully funded by the Estonian government so it's unclear what will happen when they stop that 2) Latvian Railways built a wooden high platform in Valmiera so that all stations have level boarding

295. Riga S-Bahn. The network serves parts of the city well, and especially on the left bank of the Daugava, the microdistricts are decently oriented toward the rail branches.