Rigas Satiksme
Encyclopedia
Rīgas Satiksme is a limited liability company of Riga municipality which operates public transport
and vehicle hire in the Latvia
n capital Riga
and its surrounding areas. The organisation's principal activities involve the operation of the city's 476 buses, 354 trolleybuses and 267 tram
s. It is also responsible for the operation of the city's car parks. It currently employs nearly 5000 staff members.
s, buses and trolleybuses in the city of Riga. Two years later, the separate operators of the different modes of public transport
were merged together and re-branded as Rīgas Satiksme, making it the largest provider of public transport
in Riga.
In 1924, the first bus
es were put into service in Riga, initially operated by private companies, although by 1941 all buses in the city were taken over by the state. In the years between the end of World War II
and the breakup of the Soviet Union
, buses were under the control of the Ministry of Road Transport and latterly the city's Executive Committee. The 1960s saw vast improvement in the bus
network, with the building of a new central bus station
and the introduction of new Ikarus
vehicles. In 1970, conductors
were replaced by automatic ticket machines as the principal method of fare collection, although conductors were re-introduced in 1996. Until 1992, the bus network comprised two separate entities, and both were in desperate need of modernisation as they were re-structured into one single oragnisation. 1997 saw the introduction of new Mercedes-Benz
vehicles, and the bus network has seen steady modernisation thereafter.
By 2005, Rīgas Satiksme was responsible for the operation of some 460 buses on a total of 57 routes across the city and its suburbs, as well as 15 regional routes connecting Riga
with its surrounding towns. Buses are by far the most modern mode of public transport
in the city, with a variety of models in service, including many newly delivered articulated and rigid vehicles built by Solaris
(Urbino), Mercedes-Benz
(Citaro
, O345) and brand new Ikarus buses for regional routes, although many older Ikarus
vehicles are still used in everyday service. By 2007, all old Ikarus vehicles had been removed from everyday service.
E91's which are yellow.
The first trolleybuses in Riga
entered service in 1947, using a portion of the budget initially set aside for the new tram
way, with the intention of moving slightly slower trams away from the city centre to allow for faster trolleybuses. The service was operated initially by Soviet-built units, although these were later replaced by Škoda
vehicles brought in from Czechoslovakia
. Conductors
remained on trolleybuses for 5 years after they disappeared from the buses, with electronic ticket machines replacing them in 1975. Conductors were re-introduced on the trolleybus network in 1997. From 2007 new electric ticket machines were installed and conductors disappeared. In 2009 electronic ticket machines were replaced with e-tickets (E-talons).
Rīgas Satiksme is responsible for the operation of 19 trolleybus
routes throughout the city. In recent years (2000–2009) some of the older trolleybuses have been modernised while the rest have been replaced by new Solaris
and Škoda
trolleybuses. Some old non-moderniSed Škoda
trolleybuses still run on the lines.
Tram
s have been in operation in Riga
longer than any other mode of public transport
, with the first horse-drawn trams
entering service in 1882. In 1900 it was agreed that a number of electric tram lines would be built in the city, the construction of which continued until the outbreak of World War I
. Operation of the tramways remained largely unchanged until 1918 and the emergence for the first time of Latvia
as an independent nation
, when a Belgian company took over. This period of private ownership was deemed a failure, and the city authorities regained control of the tram
network in 1931. World War II
devastated Riga's public transport
system, and it was gradually re-built to its current level.
Trams remain the principal mode of transport in Riga, with Rīgas Satiksme operating almost 300 units on 11 routes across the city. The bulk of journeys on the tram
network are operated by fairly elderly Tatra T3
units, which have been in service in Riga
since long before Latvia
became independent from the Soviet Union
in 1991.
In 2002, Rīgas Vagonbūves Rūpnīca
signed an agreement with the Mayor of Riga which would see the company replace the trams in Riga once their period of operation ended in 2010. The new trams would have offered enhanced comfort and safety, as well as would be far quieter than the city's current fleet of elderly ČKD Tatra
units. According to RVR they would have featured bright and spacious interiors and would have been 20-30% more power efficient than their predecessors. The new units were expected to be produced at a rate of 15-20 per year and would have resulted in a gradual phasing out of the Tatra tramcars. Instead, 20 Škoda
15 T
trams were built for Riga and entered service in spring 2010.
On 1 March 2009 Rigas Satiksme implemented a new payment procedure for public transport in Riga. Single E-talons tickets and tickets for 24-hour, 3-day, 5-day, or monthly periods are available. The fares remain the same. E-talons and tickets can be bought from ticket resellers around Riga. The ticket can also be bought from the driver at a higher price. When boarding public transport (bus, tram, or trolleybus) the ticket card is swiped in front of the electronic card reader.
NP - Non personalised card (no name or picture required)
P - Personalised card (with name and a picture on it)
All tickets are valid 3 months from the date of issue.
per single journey (0.70 LVL
, if the ticket is bought from the tram or trolleybus driver) is currently in operation by Rīgas Satiksme within the city boundaries. This applies to all bus
, tram
and trolleybus
services. Fares on the regional bus
routes vary depending on the journey destination.
The method of fare collection on public transport
in Riga has since 1996, been by conductor
, and indeed this practice was widespread on buses operated by Rīgas Satiksme even after conductors where phased out in trams and trolleybuses. Tickets were available for purchase from the driver or newsagents operating in the city.
An electronic ticket system (similar to the Oyster Card
system used in London) was introduced in 2009, making the registration of paper tickets and the conductor's job obsolete. This has increased the number of passengers who travel without paying the fare. More ticket control inspectors have been employed to deal with this problem, though many of these control inspectors previously worked as conductors. Many incidents have been reported about ticket control inspectors physically abusing passengers who are travelling without a ticket. It has also been reported that some of the inspectors carry electric stun guns. Ticket control inspectors do not have official standardised uniforms (the way that bus, tram, trolleybus drivers do).
in 2005, the first of which was built in 1993 to introduce parking charged to the city. Electric parking meters were introduced in 1994 with the assistance of both Riga City Council
and local authorities in Helsinki
, Finland
. Since 1996, the operation of car parks has gone hand-in-hand with the responsibility of the removal of illegally parked vehicles in the city. In 2001, it was decided that vehicular access to the city centre would be allowed only through use of a smart card
, and such cards were later introduced as a method of payment for parking. A system of parking charges by SMS
was introduced by Rīgas Satiksme in 2005.
, although it now offers rental services to the general public. Operated by Rīgas Satiksme since 2005, the service currently boasts 180 rental vehicles, comprising cars
, minibuses, coaches
and ambulances.
lines are positioned in the centre of the road, with a lane of motor traffic on either side. As a result, it is necessary for passengers to cross the road in front of moving vehicles when boarding or alighting tramcars, although it is widely accepted that motor vehicles should stop behind stationary trams. As in any city of this size, public transport can become very crowded at peak times, and capacity boards on Tatra T3
tram cars show that as many as 167 standing passengers can be accommodated at any one time. This situation is not helped by the current system of fare collection on the trams, where passengers pay the driver at the front of the tram and then have to move to the middle of the tramcar
to have their ticket stamped by a machine (a composter). There are also great problems with fare evasion on trams. Most units consist of two separate tram cars joined together, and since only the front car is manned, people can simply board the rear car and not pay the fare. This is possible due to the lack of conductors
currently employed on trams in the city. Staff safety is also a problem on the Rīgas Satiksme network. On the trams, drivers do not have a vault to place money into, instead money is placed into grooves on the dashboard. The driver's cab on the tram is not covered, making theft and assault easy. This problem is also evident on buses and trolleybuses with conductors placing money in an open pouch. Finally, although Rīgas Satiksme employees are issued with uniforms, they are not required to wear them and it can therefore be difficult to distinguish employees from passengers.
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
and vehicle hire in the Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
n capital Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
and its surrounding areas. The organisation's principal activities involve the operation of the city's 476 buses, 354 trolleybuses and 267 tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
s. It is also responsible for the operation of the city's car parks. It currently employs nearly 5000 staff members.
History
Rīgas Satiksme was founded on February 20, 2003 as an umbrella organisation for the respective operators of tramTram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
s, buses and trolleybuses in the city of Riga. Two years later, the separate operators of the different modes of public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
were merged together and re-branded as Rīgas Satiksme, making it the largest provider of public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
in Riga.
Buses
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
es were put into service in Riga, initially operated by private companies, although by 1941 all buses in the city were taken over by the state. In the years between the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the breakup of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, buses were under the control of the Ministry of Road Transport and latterly the city's Executive Committee. The 1960s saw vast improvement in the bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
network, with the building of a new central bus station
Bus station
A bus station is a structure where city or intercity buses stop to pick up and drop off passengers. It is larger than a bus stop, which is usually simply a place on the roadside, where buses can stop...
and the introduction of new Ikarus
Ikarus Bus
Ikarus is a bus manufacturer based in Budapest, Hungary. It was established in 1895 as Uhri Imre Kovács- és Kocsigyártó Üzeme .-History:...
vehicles. In 1970, conductors
Conductor (transportation)
A conductor is a member of a railway train's crew that is responsible for operational and safety duties that do not involve the actual operation of the train. The title of conductor is most associated with railway operations in North America, but the role of conductor is common to railways...
were replaced by automatic ticket machines as the principal method of fare collection, although conductors were re-introduced in 1996. Until 1992, the bus network comprised two separate entities, and both were in desperate need of modernisation as they were re-structured into one single oragnisation. 1997 saw the introduction of new Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
vehicles, and the bus network has seen steady modernisation thereafter.
By 2005, Rīgas Satiksme was responsible for the operation of some 460 buses on a total of 57 routes across the city and its suburbs, as well as 15 regional routes connecting Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
with its surrounding towns. Buses are by far the most modern mode of public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
in the city, with a variety of models in service, including many newly delivered articulated and rigid vehicles built by Solaris
Solaris Bus & Coach
Solaris Bus & Coach S.A. is a bus, coach and trolleybus manufacturer based in Bolechowo-Osiedle and Środa Wielkopolska, near Poznań, Poland.It is a family-owned business, with Krzysztof Olszewski as president and his wife Solange as chairman...
(Urbino), Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
(Citaro
Mercedes-Benz O530 Citaro
The Mercedes-Benz Citaro is the current Mercedes-Benz/EvoBus mainstream single-decker bus intended for public transport, introduced in 1997 and replaced the Mercedes-Benz O405/O405N series...
, O345) and brand new Ikarus buses for regional routes, although many older Ikarus
Ikarus Bus
Ikarus is a bus manufacturer based in Budapest, Hungary. It was established in 1895 as Uhri Imre Kovács- és Kocsigyártó Üzeme .-History:...
vehicles are still used in everyday service. By 2007, all old Ikarus vehicles had been removed from everyday service.
Bus routes
| Number | Start point | End point |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abrenes Street | Pansionāts |
| 2 | Abrenes Street | Vecmīlgrāvis Vecmilgravis Vecmīlgrāvis is a Riga neighbourhood located in the northern part of the city.... |
| 3 | Pļavnieki Plavnieki Pļavnieki is a Riga neighbourhood situated to the right of the river Daugava.... |
Bolderāja Bolderaja Bolderāja is a district to the north-west of Riga, the capital of Latvia. It probably began as a fishing village. The area has been inhabited since at least the 10th century and possibly for a longer period of time but unfortunately there is no firm evidence because of variations in the course of... |
| 4 | Abrenes Street | Piņķi Piņķi Piņķi is a village in Babīte municipality, Latvia. Piņķi had 3,033 residents as of 2006.... |
| 4z | Abrenes Street | Zolitūde Zolitude Zolitūde is a neighbourhood of Riga, the capital of Latvia, located on the city's western edge. Zolitūde's Town plan consists mainly of prefabricated concrete block Soviet-built apartments. Construction began in 1984, and halted in 1991, when Latvia obtained its independence from the USSR... |
| 5 | Abrenas Street | Mežciems |
| 6 | Dreiliņi | Riga Central Station |
| 7 | Abrenes Street | Stīpnieki |
| 8 | Riga Central Station | Zolitūde Zolitude Zolitūde is a neighbourhood of Riga, the capital of Latvia, located on the city's western edge. Zolitūde's Town plan consists mainly of prefabricated concrete block Soviet-built apartments. Construction began in 1984, and halted in 1991, when Latvia obtained its independence from the USSR... |
| 9 | Abrenes Street | Saules dārzs |
| 10 | Abrenes Street | Brūkleņu Street - Jaunmārupe |
| 11 | Abrenes Street | Jaunciem's cemetery / Suži Suži Suži is a neighbourhood of Riga, the capital of Latvia.... |
| 12 | Abrenes Street | Cooperative "Ziedonis" |
| 13 | Kleisti Kleisti Kleisti is a neighbourhood of Riga, the capital of Latvia.... |
Preču 2 |
| 14 | Abrenes Street | Zvēraudzētava |
| 15 | Jugla -3 | Dārziņi Dārziņi Dārziņi is a neighbourhood of Riga, the capital of Latvia.... -2 |
| 16 | Abrenes Street | Mucenieki / Garkalnes Mucenieki |
| 18 | Abrenes Street | Dārziņi Dārziņi Dārziņi is a neighbourhood of Riga, the capital of Latvia.... -2 |
| 19 | Jugla -3 | Sarkandaugava Sarkandaugava Sarkandaugava is a neighbourhood of Riga, Latvia.- Origins of the name :The name of the neighbourhood derives from that of the Sarkandaugava , a minor arm of the Daugava that formerly separated Pētersala from the mainland. As Riga developed and expanded, more and more of the Sarkandaugava was... |
| 20 | Pļavnieku Cemetery | Pētersalas Street |
| 21 | Imanta Imanta Imanta is a neighbourhood on the northwestern edge of Riga, Latvia. The neighbourhood's northern border is Kurzeme Prospekts ; and in the south, Imanta is separated from the newer Zolitude neighbourhood by the Riga railroad... -5 |
Jugla -3 |
| 22 | Abrenes Street | Riga International Airport Riga International Airport -Cargo airlines:*DHL Express*Inversija*RAF-Avia*Sprintair*TNT NV*Transavibaltika*UPS-Traffic statistics:Riga International Airport is one of three notable airports in Latvia. The other two are Liepāja International Airport and Ventspils Airport. Riga International Airport's biggest air carrier is... |
| 23 | Abrenes Street | Baloži Baloži Baloži is a town of Latvia situated in the Ķekava municipality. As of 2006, the city has a population of 4,481.Baloži was founded soon after the Second World War; as a village at the time, it was developed for the nearby peat factory workers. Baloži has been classified as a city since 1991.-See... |
| 24 | Abrenes Street | Mangaļsala Mangaļsala Mangaļsala is a neighbourhood of Riga, the capital of Latvia.... |
| 25 | Abrenes Street | Mārupe Mārupe Mārupe is a village in and the centre of Mārupe municipality, Latvia.... |
| 26 | Abrenes Street | Katlakalns Katlakalns Katlakalns is a neighbourhood of Riga, the capital of Latvia.... |
| 28 | Jugla -3 | Langstiņi |
| 29 | Jugla -3 | Vecmilgravis Vecmilgravis Vecmīlgrāvis is a Riga neighbourhood located in the northern part of the city.... |
| 30 | Riga Central Station | Bolderāja Bolderaja Bolderāja is a district to the north-west of Riga, the capital of Latvia. It probably began as a fishing village. The area has been inhabited since at least the 10th century and possibly for a longer period of time but unfortunately there is no firm evidence because of variations in the course of... |
| 31 | Jugla -3 | Dārziņi Dārziņi Dārziņi is a neighbourhood of Riga, the capital of Latvia.... -2 |
| 32 | Abrenes Street | Piņķi Piņķi Piņķi is a village in Babīte municipality, Latvia. Piņķi had 3,033 residents as of 2006.... |
| 33 | Abrenes Street | Kundziņsala Kundzinsala Kundziņsala is an area and island on the river Daugava in Riga, Latvia. The name Kundziņsala means "The nobleman's island" in Latvian.Kundziņsala is the biggest island in Riga. Mainly it is an industrial region, used for maritime trade... |
| 34 | Pļavnieki Plavnieki Pļavnieki is a Riga neighbourhood situated to the right of the river Daugava.... |
Saulīši |
| 35 | Abrenes Street | Zolitūdes Street |
| 36 | Imanta Imanta Imanta is a neighbourhood on the northwestern edge of Riga, Latvia. The neighbourhood's northern border is Kurzeme Prospekts ; and in the south, Imanta is separated from the newer Zolitude neighbourhood by the Riga railroad... -5 |
Vakarbuļļi |
| 37 | Imanta Imanta Imanta is a neighbourhood on the northwestern edge of Riga, Latvia. The neighbourhood's northern border is Kurzeme Prospekts ; and in the south, Imanta is separated from the newer Zolitude neighbourhood by the Riga railroad... -5 |
Esplanāde |
| 38 | Abrenes Street | Dzirciema Street |
| 39 | Abrenes Street | Lāčupe's Cemetery |
| 40 | Ziepniekkalns Ziepniekkalns Ziepniekkalns is a neighborhood of Riga, Latvia. It is located in the Pārdaugava section of Riga close to the city's southern border. Ziepniekkalns is the latest out of all Riga's neighborhoods.... |
Jugla -3 |
| 41 | Imanta Imanta Imanta is a neighbourhood on the northwestern edge of Riga, Latvia. The neighbourhood's northern border is Kurzeme Prospekts ; and in the south, Imanta is separated from the newer Zolitude neighbourhood by the Riga railroad... -5 |
Esplanāde |
| 42 | Riga Central Market Riga Central Market Riga Central Market is Europe's largest market and bazaar in Riga, Latvia. It is one of the most notable structures from 20th century in Latvia and has been included in UNESCO World Heritage Site list together with Old Riga in 1998. It was planned from 1922 and built from 1924 to 1930... |
Ziepniekkalns Ziepniekkalns Ziepniekkalns is a neighborhood of Riga, Latvia. It is located in the Pārdaugava section of Riga close to the city's southern border. Ziepniekkalns is the latest out of all Riga's neighborhoods.... |
| 44 | Zolitūde Zolitude Zolitūde is a neighbourhood of Riga, the capital of Latvia, located on the city's western edge. Zolitūde's Town plan consists mainly of prefabricated concrete block Soviet-built apartments. Construction began in 1984, and halted in 1991, when Latvia obtained its independence from the USSR... |
Ziepniekkalns Ziepniekkalns Ziepniekkalns is a neighborhood of Riga, Latvia. It is located in the Pārdaugava section of Riga close to the city's southern border. Ziepniekkalns is the latest out of all Riga's neighborhoods.... |
| 46 | Zolitūde Zolitude Zolitūde is a neighbourhood of Riga, the capital of Latvia, located on the city's western edge. Zolitūde's Town plan consists mainly of prefabricated concrete block Soviet-built apartments. Construction began in 1984, and halted in 1991, when Latvia obtained its independence from the USSR... |
Ziepniekkalns Ziepniekkalns Ziepniekkalns is a neighborhood of Riga, Latvia. It is located in the Pārdaugava section of Riga close to the city's southern border. Ziepniekkalns is the latest out of all Riga's neighborhoods.... |
| 47 | Abrenes Street | Šķirotava |
| 48 | Pļavnieki Plavnieki Pļavnieki is a Riga neighbourhood situated to the right of the river Daugava.... 's Cemetery |
Sarkandaugava Sarkandaugava Sarkandaugava is a neighbourhood of Riga, Latvia.- Origins of the name :The name of the neighbourhood derives from that of the Sarkandaugava , a minor arm of the Daugava that formerly separated Pētersala from the mainland. As Riga developed and expanded, more and more of the Sarkandaugava was... |
| 49 | Rumbula | MAN-TESS |
| 50 | Aberenes Street | TEC-2 |
| 51 | Abrenes Street | Ulbroka Ulbroka Ulbroka is a village near Riga, the capital city of Latvia. It is the center of Stopiņi Municipality. The village is crossed by two first category roads Rīga-Ērgļi and Rīga-Ogre . In 2000 there were 2,701 inhabitants.- References :... |
| 52 | Abrenes Street | Pļavnieku Cemetery |
| 53 | Esplanāde | Zolitūde Zolitude Zolitūde is a neighbourhood of Riga, the capital of Latvia, located on the city's western edge. Zolitūde's Town plan consists mainly of prefabricated concrete block Soviet-built apartments. Construction began in 1984, and halted in 1991, when Latvia obtained its independence from the USSR... |
| 54 | Riga Central Station | Voleri Voleri Voleri is a neighbourhood of Riga, the capital of Latvia.... |
Regional bus routes
Almost every regional bus route has been fixed since 1 January 2009. Some of them have been fixed, some routes are united with city routes and some routes have been extended.| Number | Start point | End point |
|---|---|---|
| 10(Extented route) | Riga Riga Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,... |
Jaunmārupe |
| 55(New route instead of 853) | Riga Riga Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,... |
Jaunmārupe |
| 43 | Riga Riga Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,... |
Skulte |
Livery
All buses are painted blue and white except IkarusIkarus Bus
Ikarus is a bus manufacturer based in Budapest, Hungary. It was established in 1895 as Uhri Imre Kovács- és Kocsigyártó Üzeme .-History:...
E91's which are yellow.
Trolleybuses
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
entered service in 1947, using a portion of the budget initially set aside for the new tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
way, with the intention of moving slightly slower trams away from the city centre to allow for faster trolleybuses. The service was operated initially by Soviet-built units, although these were later replaced by Škoda
Škoda Works
Škoda Works was the largest industrial enterprise in Austro-Hungary and later in Czechoslovakia, one of its successor states. It was also one of the largest industrial conglomerates in Europe in the 20th century...
vehicles brought in from Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. Conductors
Conductor (transportation)
A conductor is a member of a railway train's crew that is responsible for operational and safety duties that do not involve the actual operation of the train. The title of conductor is most associated with railway operations in North America, but the role of conductor is common to railways...
remained on trolleybuses for 5 years after they disappeared from the buses, with electronic ticket machines replacing them in 1975. Conductors were re-introduced on the trolleybus network in 1997. From 2007 new electric ticket machines were installed and conductors disappeared. In 2009 electronic ticket machines were replaced with e-tickets (E-talons).
Rīgas Satiksme is responsible for the operation of 19 trolleybus
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
routes throughout the city. In recent years (2000–2009) some of the older trolleybuses have been modernised while the rest have been replaced by new Solaris
Solaris Bus & Coach
Solaris Bus & Coach S.A. is a bus, coach and trolleybus manufacturer based in Bolechowo-Osiedle and Środa Wielkopolska, near Poznań, Poland.It is a family-owned business, with Krzysztof Olszewski as president and his wife Solange as chairman...
and Škoda
Škoda Works
Škoda Works was the largest industrial enterprise in Austro-Hungary and later in Czechoslovakia, one of its successor states. It was also one of the largest industrial conglomerates in Europe in the 20th century...
trolleybuses. Some old non-moderniSed Škoda
Škoda Works
Škoda Works was the largest industrial enterprise in Austro-Hungary and later in Czechoslovakia, one of its successor states. It was also one of the largest industrial conglomerates in Europe in the 20th century...
trolleybuses still run on the lines.
Trolleybus routes
| Number | Start point | End point |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pētersalas Street | Valmieras Street |
| 3 | Riga Central Market Riga Central Market Riga Central Market is Europe's largest market and bazaar in Riga, Latvia. It is one of the most notable structures from 20th century in Latvia and has been included in UNESCO World Heritage Site list together with Old Riga in 1998. It was planned from 1922 and built from 1924 to 1930... |
Sarkandaugava Sarkandaugava Sarkandaugava is a neighbourhood of Riga, Latvia.- Origins of the name :The name of the neighbourhood derives from that of the Sarkandaugava , a minor arm of the Daugava that formerly separated Pētersala from the mainland. As Riga developed and expanded, more and more of the Sarkandaugava was... |
| 5 | Daugavas Stadium | Riga Clinical Hospital |
| 9 | Iļģuciems Ilguciems Iļģuciems is one of the older neighbourhoods situated in the Pārdaugava side of Riga.... |
Riga Central Station |
| 11 | Ieriķu Street | Riga Central Station |
| 12 | Šmerlis Šmerlis Šmerlis is a forest in Riga, Latvia. It is home to Riga's Movie Studio. Šmerlis can be accessed by trolleybus routes 4 and 16, as well as tram routes 1,3, and 6. Šmerlis is also the site of the only remaining Jewish cemetery in Riga.... |
Āngenskalna Agenskalns Āgenskalns — a district in Riga, located on the left bank of the Daugava, an old neighbourhood, mainly built in the late 19th - early 20th century.-Notable places in Agensklans:*Agenskalns Market - Built in 1911 - 1914... priedes |
| 13 | Ieriķu Street | Riga Central Market Riga Central Market Riga Central Market is Europe's largest market and bazaar in Riga, Latvia. It is one of the most notable structures from 20th century in Latvia and has been included in UNESCO World Heritage Site list together with Old Riga in 1998. It was planned from 1922 and built from 1924 to 1930... |
| 14 | Mežciems | Esplanāde |
| 15 | Višķu Street | Latvian University |
| 16 | Šmerlis Šmerlis Šmerlis is a forest in Riga, Latvia. It is home to Riga's Movie Studio. Šmerlis can be accessed by trolleybus routes 4 and 16, as well as tram routes 1,3, and 6. Šmerlis is also the site of the only remaining Jewish cemetery in Riga.... |
Katlakalna Street |
| 17 | Purvciems Purvciems Purvciems is a neighbourhood of Riga, Latvia.Its name literally translates as "Marsh Village". It is located on the east bank of the River Daugava, to the east of the City Centre and is defined roughly as the area between A. Deglava Iela and Biķernieku Iela... |
Riga Central Station |
| 18 | Mežciems | Riga Central Station |
| 19 | Pētersalas Street | Ziepniekkalns Ziepniekkalns Ziepniekkalns is a neighborhood of Riga, Latvia. It is located in the Pārdaugava section of Riga close to the city's southern border. Ziepniekkalns is the latest out of all Riga's neighborhoods.... |
| 20 | Latvian Television Latvijas Televizija Latvijas Televīzija is the state-owned public service broadcasting television company in Latvia.The company is funded by grant-in-aid from the Latvian government , and gaining the rest from showing television commercials . Although moving LTV to licence fee funding has long been debated, this has... |
Latvian University |
| 22 | Katlakalna Street | E. Birznieka Upīša Street |
| 23 | Purvciems Purvciems Purvciems is a neighbourhood of Riga, Latvia.Its name literally translates as "Marsh Village". It is located on the east bank of the River Daugava, to the east of the City Centre and is defined roughly as the area between A. Deglava Iela and Biķernieku Iela... |
Riga Central Station |
| 24 | Pētersalas Street | A/S "Dzintars" |
| 25 | Iļģuciems Ilguciems Iļģuciems is one of the older neighbourhoods situated in the Pārdaugava side of Riga.... |
Brīvības Street |
| 27 | Ābolu Street | Riga Central Station |
Livery
Trolleybuses are painted in the same blue and white colours as buses, although some carry advertising. Older trolleybuses still hold the old TTP two tone blue and white.Trams
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
s have been in operation in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
longer than any other mode of public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
, with the first horse-drawn trams
Horsecar
A horsecar or horse-drawn tram is an animal-powered streetcar or tram.These early forms of public transport developed out of industrial haulage routes that had long been in existence, and from the omnibus routes that first ran on public streets in the 1820s, using the newly improved iron or steel...
entering service in 1882. In 1900 it was agreed that a number of electric tram lines would be built in the city, the construction of which continued until the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Operation of the tramways remained largely unchanged until 1918 and the emergence for the first time of Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
as an independent nation
Nation
A nation may refer to a community of people who share a common language, culture, ethnicity, descent, and/or history. In this definition, a nation has no physical borders. However, it can also refer to people who share a common territory and government irrespective of their ethnic make-up...
, when a Belgian company took over. This period of private ownership was deemed a failure, and the city authorities regained control of the tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
network in 1931. World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
devastated Riga's public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
system, and it was gradually re-built to its current level.
Trams remain the principal mode of transport in Riga, with Rīgas Satiksme operating almost 300 units on 11 routes across the city. The bulk of journeys on the tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
network are operated by fairly elderly Tatra T3
Tatra T3
The T3 is a type of tramcar produced by Tatra. During its period of production, between 1960 and 1989, 13,991 multiple units and 122 sidecars were sold worldwide, mostly in Central and Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union...
units, which have been in service in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
since long before Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
became independent from the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in 1991.
In 2002, Rīgas Vagonbūves Rūpnīca
Rigas Vagonbuves Rupnica
Originally named Phoenix, Rīgas Vagonbūves Rūpnīca was founded in 1895 by the businessman Oscar Freywirth and is one of the largest machine-building plants in Latvia. RVR is based in Riga and was for many years the largest producer of electric and diesel trains and also tramcars in the former...
signed an agreement with the Mayor of Riga which would see the company replace the trams in Riga once their period of operation ended in 2010. The new trams would have offered enhanced comfort and safety, as well as would be far quieter than the city's current fleet of elderly ČKD Tatra
CKD
A knock-down kit is a kit containing the parts needed to assemble a product...
units. According to RVR they would have featured bright and spacious interiors and would have been 20-30% more power efficient than their predecessors. The new units were expected to be produced at a rate of 15-20 per year and would have resulted in a gradual phasing out of the Tatra tramcars. Instead, 20 Škoda
Škoda Works
Škoda Works was the largest industrial enterprise in Austro-Hungary and later in Czechoslovakia, one of its successor states. It was also one of the largest industrial conglomerates in Europe in the 20th century...
15 T
Škoda 15 T
Škoda 15T is a 100% low floor tram developed by Škoda for the Transport Company of Prague in the years 2005-2008. The order and subsequent construction was influenced by experiences with operation of the Škoda 14 T in the Prague tram network...
trams were built for Riga and entered service in spring 2010.
Tram lines
| Number | Start point | End point |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Tapešu Street | Riga Central Market Riga Central Market Riga Central Market is Europe's largest market and bazaar in Riga, Latvia. It is one of the most notable structures from 20th century in Latvia and has been included in UNESCO World Heritage Site list together with Old Riga in 1998. It was planned from 1922 and built from 1924 to 1930... |
| 3 | Shopping Center "Dole" | Jugla |
| 4 | Imanta Imanta Imanta is a neighbourhood on the northwestern edge of Riga, Latvia. The neighbourhood's northern border is Kurzeme Prospekts ; and in the south, Imanta is separated from the newer Zolitude neighbourhood by the Riga railroad... |
Riga Central Market Riga Central Market Riga Central Market is Europe's largest market and bazaar in Riga, Latvia. It is one of the most notable structures from 20th century in Latvia and has been included in UNESCO World Heritage Site list together with Old Riga in 1998. It was planned from 1922 and built from 1924 to 1930... |
| 5 | Iļģuciems Ilguciems Iļģuciems is one of the older neighbourhoods situated in the Pārdaugava side of Riga.... |
Mīlgrāvis Mīlgrāvis Mīlgrāvis is a neighbourhood of Riga, the capital of Latvia.... |
| 6 | Jugla | Riga Central Station |
| 7 | Shopping Center "Dole" | Ausekļa Street |
| 9 | Shopping Center "Dole" | A/S "Aldaris" |
| 10 | Bišumuiža Bišumuiža Bišumuiža is a neighbourhood of Riga, the capital of Latvia.... |
Riga Central Market Riga Central Market Riga Central Market is Europe's largest market and bazaar in Riga, Latvia. It is one of the most notable structures from 20th century in Latvia and has been included in UNESCO World Heritage Site list together with Old Riga in 1998. It was planned from 1922 and built from 1924 to 1930... |
| 11 | Mežaparks Mežaparks Mežaparks is a neighbourhood in North Central Riga, Latvia. The name is literally translated as 'forest park'. The park was built in the early 20th century and was originally called Kaiserwald. It was one of the world's first garden cities... |
Riga Central Station |
Livery
Most trams are painted in regular Rīgas Satiksme two-tone blue and white livery, although some are in special overall advertising liveries.E-talons
Fares
| Ticket type | Fare LVL Latvian lats The lats is the currency of Latvia. It is abbreviated as Ls. The lats is sub-divided into 100 santīmi .... |
Transport type | Routes | Drives | Notes | Card type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 hour ticket | 1.50 | Trolleybus,bus,tram | All | Unlimited | Carton | |
| 3 day ticket | 4.60 | Trolleybus,bus,tram | All | Unlimited | Carton | |
| 5 day ticket | ||||||
| 3.40 | One preferred transport | One route | Unlimited | Can be used only on one transport type and on one route. | Carton/NP/P | |
| |4.80 | One transport | All routes | Unlimited | Use one transport (trolleybus or bus or tram) for all routes | Carton/NP/P | |
| |5.60 | Two transports | All routes | Unlimited | Use two types of transport (ex. bus and tram) for all routs with these transport types | Carton/NP/P | |
| |7.60 | Trolleybus,bus,tram | All routes | Unlimited | Use all transport for every route | Carton/NP/P | |
| 5 Rides | 2.00 | Trolleybus,bus,tram | All routes | 5 | Use one ticket for one drive | Carton/NP/P |
| 10 rides | 3.80 | Trolleybus,bus,tram | All routes | 10 | Use one ticket for one drive | Carton/NP/P |
| 20 rides | 7.20 | Trolleybus,bus,tram | All routes | 20 | Use on ticket for one drive | Carton/NP/P |
| 1 ride | 0.70 | Trolleybus,bus,tram | All routes | 1 | Use ticket for one ride in all transports. Fare 0.70 only when buying a ticket from the driver | Paper |
NP - Non personalised card (no name or picture required)
P - Personalised card (with name and a picture on it)
All tickets are valid 3 months from the date of issue.
Fares
A flat fare (applies from 1 January 2010) of 0.50 LVLLatvian lats
The lats is the currency of Latvia. It is abbreviated as Ls. The lats is sub-divided into 100 santīmi ....
per single journey (0.70 LVL
Latvian lats
The lats is the currency of Latvia. It is abbreviated as Ls. The lats is sub-divided into 100 santīmi ....
, if the ticket is bought from the tram or trolleybus driver) is currently in operation by Rīgas Satiksme within the city boundaries. This applies to all bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
, tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
and trolleybus
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
services. Fares on the regional bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
routes vary depending on the journey destination.
The method of fare collection on public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
in Riga has since 1996, been by conductor
Conductor (transportation)
A conductor is a member of a railway train's crew that is responsible for operational and safety duties that do not involve the actual operation of the train. The title of conductor is most associated with railway operations in North America, but the role of conductor is common to railways...
, and indeed this practice was widespread on buses operated by Rīgas Satiksme even after conductors where phased out in trams and trolleybuses. Tickets were available for purchase from the driver or newsagents operating in the city.
An electronic ticket system (similar to the Oyster Card
Oyster card
The Oyster card is a form of electronic ticketing used on public transport services within the Greater London area of the United Kingdom. It is promoted by Transport for London and is valid on a number of different travel systems across London including London Underground, buses, the Docklands...
system used in London) was introduced in 2009, making the registration of paper tickets and the conductor's job obsolete. This has increased the number of passengers who travel without paying the fare. More ticket control inspectors have been employed to deal with this problem, though many of these control inspectors previously worked as conductors. Many incidents have been reported about ticket control inspectors physically abusing passengers who are travelling without a ticket. It has also been reported that some of the inspectors carry electric stun guns. Ticket control inspectors do not have official standardised uniforms (the way that bus, tram, trolleybus drivers do).
Car parking
Rīgas Satiksme took over the operation of car parks in RigaRiga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
in 2005, the first of which was built in 1993 to introduce parking charged to the city. Electric parking meters were introduced in 1994 with the assistance of both Riga City Council
Riga City Council
Riga City Council is the government of Riga City, the capital of Latvia. It is located in the Riga Town Hall at the Town Hall Square in the very heart of Riga....
and local authorities in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. Since 1996, the operation of car parks has gone hand-in-hand with the responsibility of the removal of illegally parked vehicles in the city. In 2001, it was decided that vehicular access to the city centre would be allowed only through use of a smart card
Smart card
A smart card, chip card, or integrated circuit card , is any pocket-sized card with embedded integrated circuits. A smart card or microprocessor cards contain volatile memory and microprocessor components. The card is made of plastic, generally polyvinyl chloride, but sometimes acrylonitrile...
, and such cards were later introduced as a method of payment for parking. A system of parking charges by SMS
SMS
SMS is a form of text messaging communication on phones and mobile phones. The terms SMS or sms may also refer to:- Computer hardware :...
was introduced by Rīgas Satiksme in 2005.
Vehicle rental
Vehicle rental, initially operated by SIA Rīgas domes autobāze, was set up in 1992 with the main goal of providing vehicles to Riga City CouncilRiga City Council
Riga City Council is the government of Riga City, the capital of Latvia. It is located in the Riga Town Hall at the Town Hall Square in the very heart of Riga....
, although it now offers rental services to the general public. Operated by Rīgas Satiksme since 2005, the service currently boasts 180 rental vehicles, comprising cars
CARS
Cars, or automobiles, motor cars, are wheeled motor vehicles used for transporting passengers.Cars or CARS may also refer to:-Entertainment:* Cars , a Disney/Pixar film series...
, minibuses, coaches
Coach (vehicle)
A coach is a large motor vehicle, a type of bus, used for conveying passengers on excursions and on longer distance express coach scheduled transport between cities - or even between countries...
and ambulances.
Problems
Although the public transport network is generally well integrated and efficient, several problems can be noted in the day-to-day operation of the system. Issues concerning passenger safety arise from the layout of the tramway on many streets in Riga, whereby the tramTram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
lines are positioned in the centre of the road, with a lane of motor traffic on either side. As a result, it is necessary for passengers to cross the road in front of moving vehicles when boarding or alighting tramcars, although it is widely accepted that motor vehicles should stop behind stationary trams. As in any city of this size, public transport can become very crowded at peak times, and capacity boards on Tatra T3
Tatra T3
The T3 is a type of tramcar produced by Tatra. During its period of production, between 1960 and 1989, 13,991 multiple units and 122 sidecars were sold worldwide, mostly in Central and Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union...
tram cars show that as many as 167 standing passengers can be accommodated at any one time. This situation is not helped by the current system of fare collection on the trams, where passengers pay the driver at the front of the tram and then have to move to the middle of the tramcar
Tramcar
The Tramcar is a trackless train service running on the Boardwalk in the Cape May County, New Jersey communities of Wildwood and North Wildwood. The service, which began on June 11, 1949, takes passengers along the two-mile long Wildwood boardwalk...
to have their ticket stamped by a machine (a composter). There are also great problems with fare evasion on trams. Most units consist of two separate tram cars joined together, and since only the front car is manned, people can simply board the rear car and not pay the fare. This is possible due to the lack of conductors
Conductor (transportation)
A conductor is a member of a railway train's crew that is responsible for operational and safety duties that do not involve the actual operation of the train. The title of conductor is most associated with railway operations in North America, but the role of conductor is common to railways...
currently employed on trams in the city. Staff safety is also a problem on the Rīgas Satiksme network. On the trams, drivers do not have a vault to place money into, instead money is placed into grooves on the dashboard. The driver's cab on the tram is not covered, making theft and assault easy. This problem is also evident on buses and trolleybuses with conductors placing money in an open pouch. Finally, although Rīgas Satiksme employees are issued with uniforms, they are not required to wear them and it can therefore be difficult to distinguish employees from passengers.