Chairman of the Board of “Rīgas satiksme” Džineta Innusa: “In 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic continued, creating unprecedented challenges for the provision of passenger transportation, both in terms of government restrictions and in terms of staff illness. Nevertheless, the company managed to end last year with positive results. Work has also been carried out to improve the comfort of passenger transportation, as all 20 low-floor trams have been received, which fully allows to secure passenger transportation by low-floor trams on tram routes No. 1 and No. 11. An agreement has also been reached on the delivery of 88 buses, furthermore, the procurement of new electric buses has been announced. A new payment method has been introduced - Code ticket. The priorities for 2022 will be the renewal of both the public transport fleet and the infrastructure, also work on the improvement of the Code Ticket application and the introduction of new products into it will continue.

In 2021, public transport services and passenger transportation were also significantly affected by the carrier’s obligation to comply with the restrictions adopted to limit the COVID-19 pandemic. It affected both the total revenue of the enterprise and the revenue from ticket sales.

The total revenue of “Rīgas satiksme” in 2021 was 167.2 million euro, which is 16.1% less than in 2020. In 2021, revenue from the sale of tickets for public transport services was 27.6 million euro, which is a 13% decrease compared to 2020, due to the introduction of restrictions on the Covid-19 pandemic.

Operating costs (production, sales and administration costs of sold products) in 2021, compared to 2020, have decreased by 12.7 mln euro or 7.7%. This has been achieved through the active involvement of the company’s board in supervision of the procurement procedures and controlling cost-effectiveness, as well as balancing expenses in the face of declining revenues.

Last year, 74.3 million passengers were transported by public transport. The performance of trips in 2021 was 99.75%, in addition, scheduled and unscheduled trips were successfully provided in accordance with the demand of an emergency situation.

In 2021, “Rīgas satiksme” served 52 bus routes, 17 trolleybus routes and 6 tram routes with a total route network length of 1177.1 km, with the bus route length of 875.2 km, tram route length of 69.1 km and trolleybus route length - 166.5 km.

In 2021, “Rīgas satiksme” serviced 6419 parking lots. With the continuing impact of COVID-19 and the decreasing mobility of the road transport users, in 2021, revenues from parking lots management reduced, amounting to 10.4 million, which is 11% less than in 2020.

“Rīgas satiksme” closed 2021 with a profit of 3 million euro.

Achievements of 2021:

• Introduction of a new payment method - Code ticket, which allows passengers to purchase a ticket for public transport online in their smartphones;
• The remaining 17 out of 20 low-floor trams have been received, which allows for the full provision of low-floor trams for passenger transportation on tram routes No. 1 and No. 11;
• Implementation of the project “Adaptation of Riga tram infrastructure to the low-floor tram parameters” has been started, construction projects development:

- for the adaptation of the infrastructure of tram route No. 7 in the section from Centrāltirgus Street to the final point “Ķengarags” to the low-floor tram parameters;
- for the reconstruction of the intersection of 11 November embankment and 13 January Street;
- for the adaptation of the infrastructure of tram route No. 5 in the section from the intersection of Jūrmalas gatve and Slokas Street to the final point “Iļģuciems” to the low-floor tram parameters;
- for the renovation/reconstruction/construction of five substations and the purchase of electrical equipment.

• The project “Development of environmentally friendly public transport infrastructure in Riga - purchase of emission-free buses” has been launched. The project envisages purchase of 35 electric buses by the end of 2023. It is planned to attract co-financing from the European Union Cohesion Fund for its implementation;
• The plan of the Latvian Recovery Fund has been approved, which includes the idea of ​ “Rīgas satiksme” project “Environmentally friendly improvements in the public transport system of the city of Riga”. Within its framework, it is planned to purchase four low-floor trams, 17 electric buses and to build seven fast charging devices to ensure the charging of electric buses.

Scheduled for 2022:

• Reconstruction of tracks in Slokas Street in the section from the intersection with Jūrmalas gatve to the intersection with Kalnciema Street (including the intersection);
• Reconstruction of tracks from the circle of Ausekļa Street to the intersection of Aspazijas Boulevard/Radio Street along Kronvalda, Z.A. Meirovica and Aspazijas boulevards;
• Commencement of the procurement of construction works for the reconstruction of the depot No. 5;
• Continue work on the procurement of 35 electric buses;
• Start construction works

-  for reconstruction/renovation of tram route No. 7 infrastructure by reconstruction and/or renovation of tracks, reconstruction and construction of the energy supply infrastructure, reconstruction of several intersections to ensure safe tram traffic and step-by-step construction/reconstruction of entry and exit platforms and stop platforms compliant with the environmental accessibility requirements from Centrāltirgus Street to the final point “Ķengarags”, indicatively 7 km long;

-  for reconstruction/renovation of tram route No. 5 infrastructure by reconstruction and/or renovation of tracks, reconstruction and construction of the energy supply infrastructure and step-by-step construction/reconstruction of entry and exit platforms and stop platforms compliant with the environmental accessibility requirements from the intersection of Slokas Street and Jūrmalas gatve to the final point “Iļģuciems”, indicatively 2 km long;

- for reconstruction/renewal of tracks at the intersection of 11 November Embankment and 13 January Street, incl. the installation of the automatic switch control system in accordance with the safety requirements of SIL3 (safety integrity level 3), indicatively 0.24 km long;

- for the renovation/reconstruction of five substation buildings, for the renovation of 10 kV power lines and for the replacement of electrical equipment. In addition, to perform other works that will improve the quality of passenger transportation.

Report for 2021 is available: https://www.rigassatiksme.lv/files/gada_parskats_2021_gads.pdf

The presentation of the press conference is available here.

More detailed information about types of services offered by „Rīgas satiksme”, lists of routes, types of tickets and other news can be obtained on the website www.rigassatiksme.lv or in social networks „twitter”, „facebook”.