“Pasažieru vilciens” (PV), the only Latvian railway company engaged in passenger transportation, has asked for an exception to the draft law, which aims to introduce even more restrictions on Russian and Belarusian goods. This is requested in a letter addressed to the Budget and Finance Committee of the Saeima, TVNET informs.
“Pasažieru vilciens” (PV), the only Latvian railway company engaged in passenger transportation, has asked for an exception to the draft law, which aims to introduce even more restrictions on Russian and Belarusian goods. This is requested in a letter addressed to the Budget and Finance Committee of the Saeima, TVNET informs.
The reason is that Latvians do not have other suppliers who can supply the electric and diesel trains manufactured in the Soviet Union with the necessary parts.
The Commission is analyzing the amendment to the Law on Procurement of Utilities Providers, which stipulates that the customer must oblige the tenderers to ensure that goods manufactured in Russia or Belarus will not be used for the performance of services.
PV states that it must follow the manufacturer’s instructions when operating and repairing trains. Regulations and technical projects indicate which details can be combined with each other. In order to ensure the safe operation of vehicles, old electric and diesel train structures cannot be changed, and most of the parts needed for them were manufactured in Russia or Belarus. The carrier assured that it is looking for solutions, but not all parts can be replaced in EU countries, especially since the company uses the Russian-made communication block “Blok” in the train movement security system.
“If reasonable exceptions are not foreseen, PV will be able to operate the currently available structures only as long as the available spare parts are sufficient, and they will be needed this spring as well,” TVNET quoted from the letter.
When the stock of parts is exhausted, PV, thinking about safety, will have to reduce the number of units in operation, which will affect the transportation of passengers.
The channel specified that passengers are currently transported by diesel and electric trains and low-floor Škoda 16Ev electric trains, while shunting locomotives are used for auxiliary work.
After Russia attacked Ukraine, the EU already applied 13 sanctions packages to the aggressor, including restrictions on the import of certain products.
Moscow says all bans are illegal.
