Dec 15, 2025

Latvia Awards €89.4M Contract to Škoda Group for Battery-Electric Trains

According to a report by Railway Gazette, Latvia's national transport authority, Autotransporta Direkcija (ATD), awarded Skoda Group a contract worth EUR89.4m on December 11 to supply nine 1,520 mm gauge two-car battery-electric multiple-units (BEMUs).

The deal includes the provision of spare parts, staff training, and an option for seven more BEMUs, which would increase the total order value to EUR160m. The contract is being financed by the Latvian national government and the European Union's cohesion funds. The other bidders were CAF and Stadler Polska.

The vehicles will be based on Skoda's next-generation regional train platform developed for the Baltic markets. They are intended for regional services and will be capable of operating under both 3 kV DC and 25 kV 50 Hz power supplies. The trains have a maximum speed of 160 km/h when using the overhead electric supply and 120 km/h in battery mode. They will feature 164 seats in second class with a 3+2 configuration and 24 seats in first class with a 2+2 arrangement.

The BEMUs are expected to run primarily from Riga southeast to Daugavpils and northeast to Cesis, with the necessary charging infrastructure to be built on these lines. The new trains would reduce travel time by up to 15 to 25 minutes compared to the current diesel loco-hauled trains on these routes. The seven additional optional BEMUs would allow for the replacement of most of the 23 diesel trainsets currently deployed, extend the Cesis service to Valmiera, and serve additional destinations from Riga such as Rezekne to the east.

The first battery trainsets are scheduled to enter service in the first half of 2029.

"Battery-powered electric trains represent a significant investment for Latvia, aimed at strengthening the role of railways as the backbone of public transport and improving the quality and accessibility of passenger transport," said Janis Lapins, Chairman of the Board of ATD. "During the journey, passengers will be able to enjoy all the modern conveniences: air conditioning, reduced noise and vibration, modern equipment, electrical sockets, and USB-C charging points. The new trains will be adapted to all passenger groups and will meet the latest European accessibility requirements, equipped with a modern information system and spaces for passengers in wheelchairs."

"Conditions for passengers with bicycles will also be improved. While old diesel trains usually have a high floor and only three spaces for bicycles, the new battery trains will have space for eight bicycles in the low-floor section, four in a vertical position and four in a horizontal position," he added.

1. INTRODUCTION

Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business
1. REPORT DESCRIPTION
2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE AI PLATFORM
3. DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
4. GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS
2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A Quick Overview of Market Performance
1. KEY FINDINGS
2. MARKET TRENDSThis Chapter is Available Only for the Professional EditionPRO
3. MARKET OVERVIEW

Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects
1. MARKET SIZE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
2. MARKET STRUCTURE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
3. TRADE BALANCE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
4. PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
5. MARKET FORECAST TO 2035
4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCTS FOR DIVERSIFICATION

Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business
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1. TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
2. BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
3. MOST CONSUMED PRODUCTS
4. MOST TRADED PRODUCTS
5. MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCTS FOR EXPORTS
5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES

Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain
- This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional EditionPRO
1. TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
2. TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
3. TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
4. LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES
6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS

Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export
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1. TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
2. TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
3. UNSATURATED MARKETS
4. TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
5. MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS
7. PRODUCTION

The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry
1. PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
8. IMPORTS

The Largest Import Supplying Countries
1. IMPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
2. IMPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025)
3. IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025)
9. EXPORTS

The Largest Destinations for Exports
1. EXPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
2. EXPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025)
3. EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025)
10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS

The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles
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LIST OF TABLES
1. Key Findings In 2025
2. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
3. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
4. Per Capita Consumption: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
5. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2025
6. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2025
7. Import Prices, By Country, 2012–2025
8. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2025
9. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2025
10. Export Prices, By Country, 2012–2025
LIST OF FIGURES
1. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
2. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
3. Market Structure – Domestic Supply vs. Imports, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
4. Market Structure – Domestic Supply vs. Imports, in Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
5. Trade Balance, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
6. Trade Balance, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
7. Per Capita Consumption: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
8. Market Volume Forecast to 2035
9. Market Value Forecast to 2035
10. Market Size and Growth, By Product
11. Average Per Capita Consumption, By Product
12. Exports and Growth, By Product
13. Export Prices and Growth, By Product
14. Production Volume and Growth
15. Exports and Growth
16. Export Prices and Growth
17. Market Size and Growth
18. Per Capita Consumption
19. Imports and Growth
20. Import Prices
21. Production, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
22. Production, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
23. Imports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
24. Imports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
25. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2025
26. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2025
27. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2025
28. Import Prices, By Country, 2012–2025
29. Exports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
30. Exports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
31. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2025
32. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2025
33. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2025
34. Export Prices, By Country, 2012–2025