Džineta Innusa, chairwoman of the Board of Rīgas satiksme, says: “In 2022, when the Covid-19 restrictions were lifted, passengers gradually started using public transport again with increased frequency. At the same time, in 2022, we carried out extensive preparatory work in order to implement public transport infrastructure renovation projects that are entirely new to Rīgas satiksme, which is to be finalised this year. Without infrastructure renovation, it would not be possible to provide a sustainable public transport service to the residents of Riga. Therefore, the most important step to take in the near future is to find a long-term solution for the renovation and maintenance of the public transport infrastructure in the coming years, as well as for the purchase of new public transport vehicles, the introduction of modern technologies, and the development of the proficiency and professional growth of our employees."

In early 2022, the operation of Rīgas satiksme was still affected by the obligation to implement COVID-19 pandemic response measures, and the restrictions set by the Cabinet of Ministers regarding the capacity limits of public transport vehicles remained in force until 28 February 2022. The business operation of the company was affected by the high incidence of employee illness: at the beginning of the year, more than 20% of the public transport drivers were affected by the disease.

The total revenue of Rīgas satiksme was 168.7 million euro in 2022, which is 7.6 million euro more than in 2021. Revenue from the sales of tickets for public transport services in 2022 was 32.2 million euro, which represents an increase of 4.6 million euro compared to 2021.

Production costs (material costs, wages, expenses related to depreciation, etc.) were 151.8 million euro. Thus, compared to 2021, these costs have increased by 14.9 million euro. The increase in costs is related to the rapidly increasing prices of diesel fuel and electricity, as well as other increasing costs of services. The selling expenses were 6.1 million euro in 2022, which represents a decrease of 3.6 million euro over last year. As for administrative expenses, they constituted 5.9 million euro in 2022, or 0.4 million euro more than in 2021. 

Last year, public transport carried 93.3 million passengers, which is 26% more than in 2021. In 2022, 99.86% of all scheduled public transport rides were carried out successfully. In addition, all scheduled and unscheduled rides were successfully provided whenever an emergency situation arose.

In 2022, Rīgas satiksme operated 51 bus routes, 21 trolleybus routes and 5 tram routes. The total length of the bus routes adds up to 875 km, the length of the tram routes — to 59 km, and the length of the trolleybus routes — to 210.7 km.

Rīgas satiksme also operated an average of 6245 parking lots in 2022. Despite the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic at the beginning of 2022, and due to a decrease in transportation by car, revenues in 2022 increased by 22% compared to 2021 and reached 12.7 million euro.

Rīgas satiksme closed the year of 2022 with a profit of 1.8 million euro.

The most important activities carried out in 2022:

In 2022, five construction contracts were concluded (for the track, overhead line, and power supply cable network reconstruction) — the most important tasks carried out were the reconstruction of tracks in the tram 1 route on Slokas iela in the segment reaching from the intersection with Jūrmalas iela to the intersection with Kalnciema iela (including the crossroads themselves) and on the tram 11 route in the segment reaching from the Ausekļa iela ring road (inclusive) to the intersection of Aspazijas bulvāris / Radio iela along Kronvalda, Z.A. Meierovica and Aspazijas bulvāris. Moreover, to modernise substations, a contract has been concluded for the supply and installation of remote control equipment. At the end of 2022, five contracts for the development of construction projects were concluded, and three construction projects were developed.

Reconstruction of the industrial buildings of tram depot No. 5 at 191 Brīvības iela, Riga — the expert examination of the construction project design was completed, and the development of the amended construction project continued. Moreover, the construction work procurement was started.

The project “Adaptation of Riga Tram Infrastructure to Low-Floor Tram Parameters”, with co-financing by the Cohesion Fund amounting to 38.78 million euro. The contract for the implementation of the project with the Central Finance and Contracting Agency (CFLA) was signed on 5 August 2022. The documentation of the construction plans for the reconstruction of the intersection of 11. novembra krastmala and 13. janvāra iela; for the adaptation of the route of tram 5 to low-floor tram parameters in the segment between the intersection of Slokas iela and Jūrmalas gatve and its final stop “Iļģuciems”; and for the renovation of substation 11 has been developed and approved by the City Development Department of the Riga City Council. Construction projects have been developed and are being coordinated with the owners of the engineering networks for the reconstruction of the segment of the tram 7 route from Centrāltirgus iela to the final stop “Ķengarags” and for the renovation of three substations (No. 4, 16, and 17), as well as for the construction of substation No. 13. The first construction works have started where the overhead line is being renovated, that is, from the Southern Bridge to the shopping centre “Dole”.

The project “Purchase of Electric Buses for the State City of Riga”. The Cohesion Fund has obtained 16.07 million euro of co-financing for the implementation of this project. The contract for the implementation of the project was signed with the CFLA on 17 August 2022.  In 2022, the procurement of electric buses, which was started in October 2021, continued. As a result, a contract was concluded with Solaris Bus & Coach Sp. z.o.o. on 29 November 2022, for the supply of 35 electric buses.

The most important projects in 2023:

In 2023, the track reconstruction, overhead line, and power supply cable network reconstruction works, as well as the modernisation works of the substation equipment, which had been started in 2022, are continuing. The most significant of these works in terms of volume is the track reconstruction on Slokas iela in the segment from the intersection with Jūrmalas gatve to the intersection with Kalnciema iela (including the crossroads themselves).

In 2023, the development of more than ten construction projects (reconstruction of tracks and stops, modernisation of substation equipment and reconstruction of buildings, renovation of overhead lines and power supply cable networks) will be completed, and for some of them, construction work tenders will be conducted, and construction works will also be started. In addition, there are plans to purchase equipment as part of the reconstruction works of five substations, as well as to continue the modernisation works of substations that have already been initiated by purchasing remote control equipment. The most sizeable facility subject to construction work is tram depot No. 5, which will be rebuilt.

As for the project “Adaptation of Riga Tram Infrastructure to Low-Floor Tram Parameters”, there are plans, for the year of 2023, to finalise the construction project development works of all objects and to carry out construction works in all the components of the project, adapting the infrastructure of a segment of the tram 7 route (~7 km) and a segment of the tram 5 route (~2 km) to low-floor tram parameters by rebuilding and/or renovating the tracks, constructing and reconstructing the energy supply infrastructure, rebuilding several intersections and building/rebuilding the platforms of the stops. Reconstruction/renovation of tracks will be carried out at the intersection of 11. novembra krastmala and 13. janvāra iela (~0.25 km), including by installing an automatic track switch control system. The renovation/reconstruction of four substation buildings will be carried out, as well as the construction of one new substation, the restoration of 10 kV power lines, and the replacement of electrical equipment.

Within the framework of the project “Purchase of Electric Buses for the State City of Riga” in 2023, it is planned to receive 35 electric buses, to test them, and to put them into operation.

Furthermore, in 2023, it is planned to submit project applications to the CFLA and, in case they are approved, to launch the project “Reducing Emissions Produced during the Provision of Public Transport Services in the City of Riga”.

The 2022 annual report is available at:

https://www.rigassatiksme.lv/files/2022_gada_parskats.pdf