LTG Link has started selling train tickets to Riga: what's important to know about the journey ahead

LTG Link, the passenger transport company of the LTG Group, is actively preparing for the start of the new international Vilnius-Riga route. Direct trains will run daily, departing from Vilnius in the morning and from Riga in the afternoon of each day. Tickets for the first trains will be available from today, 18 December, at 1.30 pm. A standard train ticket between the two capitals will cost €24 and customers will be able to choose between regular and first class. The passenger train route will be started following an agreement between the Transport Ministers and Prime Ministers of the three Baltic States.

"With the first journey on 27 December, we are starting the sale today for the first winter journeys to Latvia. We have already completed the most important preparations and received the necessary permits, so we can share the most important details of the upcoming journeys. This route will be convenient for all people, including those with individual needs. The journey will not take too long - the estimated journey time will be competitive with cars, but instead of tiring driving, it will be possible to spend the journey time on oneself in a meaningful way, and the comfort and sustainability that awaits passengers will be the kind of comfort and sustainability that only trains can offer," says Gediminas Šečkus, acting CEO of LTG Link.

"LTG Link's route will be convenient for those planning one-day business trips in Latvia. The train will depart from Vilnius every day at 6.30 am., from Kaišiadorys - at 7.14 am, from Šiauliai - at 08:51 am., from Joniškis - at 09.30 am. The train will arrive in Jelgava at 10:06 am., and in Riga Central Station at 10.43 am. From Riga to Vilnius, the train will depart daily at 03:28 pm., and from Jelgava at 04:08 p.m. The train will reach Šiauliai at 05.21 pm. and Vilnius - at 07.51 p.m.

The typical train journey between the two capital cities is expected to take around 4 hours. 15 min. The journey time may change only slightly due to infrastructure improvement works. For the convenience of passengers, the new timetable also includes a convenient transfer to an international train from the Kaunas-Vilnius train. This transfer is planned at Kaišiadorys railway station.

Passengers will be invited to travel on a modern diesel Pesa 730 ML train. Both the access to the train and its interior are adapted for people with individual needs and reduced mobility. The train is equipped with a heating and ventilation system and air conditioning. The train has 142 passenger seats and 4 bicycle racks. Hot and cold snacks and drinks will be available for customer convenience throughout the journey.

The route will primarily aim to provide sustainable international travel opportunities, and therefore no local travel services in Latvia will be provided on the Jelgava-Ryga section.

Passengers are invited to purchase tickets starting today. The company advises to plan your journey to Riga well in advance, which is best done online on the company's website www.LTGLink.lt and via the mobile app. Children under 6 years of age without a separate seat on the train will not be charged anything, while a 30% discount will be applied for children aged 6-16 years.

The company has also recently updated the standard of customer service on board trains. To meet the needs of different passengers, all trains, both domestic and international, will now pay more attention to the quiet zone in first class carriages. The aim is to make travelling more comfortable for those who want to share the excitement of their journey with their fellow travellers, as well as for those who want to enjoy a quieter, more spacious seating area and dedicated power sockets for charging their devices.

International travellers are reminded to carry their identity documents with them. Personal hand luggage and bicycles will be allowed on this international route (with prior purchase of a transfer service). The fixed price for a bicycle on the whole route is EUR 10. As in Lithuania, travel to Riga will be pet-friendly, as long as you have a valid European pet passport and comply with sanitary and hygiene requirements. Small pets in special carrier bags can travel for free, while larger pets can travel for a fixed fee of €5.

In addition, the Eurail Travel Pass is valid on all LTG Link routes, some of which have a reservation fee, so ticket holders will also be able to travel between Lithuania and Latvia.

More information on the international route can be found here.