Rīga will see changes in tram traffic as of May

From 1 May, the tram route network in Rīga will change significantly.

The municipal public transport company Rīgas Satiksme will create new routes and make significant changes to several existing ones. The changes were decided at a meeting of the Passenger Commercial Transport Licensing Commission on Wednesday, 16 April.

“These will be global changes to the entire tram route network, the main motivation of which is the improved traffic infrastructure, reconstruction of the track in Slokas Street. Importantly, it will also improve the connectivity of neighbourhoods, for example, passengers will now be able to travel from Ķengarags to Pārdaugava without changing trams,” explained Commission Chair Miroslavs Kodis (New Unity).

  New tram route “Iļģuciems-Ķengarags” – No.14  

From 1 May, a new tram route No 14 will be opened to connect Iļģuciems with Ķengarags. It will also run low-floor trams, providing easier access also towards Ilguciems. The route will pass by Riga International Bus Station.

  Tram route 2 extended and given a new number – No. 8  

The current tram route 2 will be extended to Mīlgrāvis and will now run with a new number – No. 8 – on the route “Mīlgravis-Tapešu iela”. On weekends, some services will be organised on the section “Stacijas laukums-Tapešu iela” and will be numbered 8a. The traffic volume will remain similar to the existing tram route 2. 

  Changes to tram 5  

As the new route 14 will now be available to residents of Iļģuciems, the intervals in the timetable for tram 5 will change. The route “Iļģuciems-Mīlgrāvis” will be maintained, but the timetables will be changed to increase the intervals between services. These changes will be fully compensated by the new services on route 14 towards Iļģuciems and on route 8 towards Mīlgrāvis.

  Tram 10 returns to the Central Market – with a new direction of travel  

Tram 10 will now run counter-clockwise along the Central Market Circle after the Rail Baltica project completes the construction of the overpass in April.

The route will run from Bišumuiža to 11 November Embankment, then along Lastādijas and Centrāltirgus streets to the bus stop “Bus Station”, then along Prāgas and 13. janvāra streets back to the usual route.

The route name will remain unchanged and the number of services will remain the same as before, when the tram ran to Stacijas laukums.

  Changes to the timetables of trams 1, 7 and 11  

The departure times of tram routes 1, 7 and 11 will be revised to ensure better coordination with trams 5, 8, 10 and 14 on the common sections. The number of services will not be changed.