A regular passenger train service between the Latvian and Estonian capitals could be launched next year, according to a representative at Latvian passenger railway company Pasazieru Vilciens (Passenger Train).

Passenger Train board member Ivars Zalais, announced this week that the company planned to resume service on the route Riga-Sigulda-Cesis-Valmiera-Valga. From Valga, which is on the Latvian-Estonian border, passengers could be transported to Tallinn by an Estonian train.

“ Estonia is open to negotiations”, said Zalais.

A fast train might be put on the new route, since the distance from Riga to Valga was quite long, he added.
Passenger Train would not give any specific time when the Riga-Valga train could start running, but Board Chairwoman Linda Baltina said the company would launch the route in six months if it was approved by the Latvian Government.
However, Latvian Transport Minister Krisjanis Peters said the Riga-Valga train could be launched in the next few years, but it was unlikely to happen this year.

Currently there is no direct passenger railway service between Riga and Tallinn. The Riga-Valga line was functional until March 2001.

Passenger Train, which carried 25.5m passengers last year, is the passenger service subsidiary of the state-owned railway company Latvijas Dzelzcels (Latvian Railway).