On 3 November, Implementing Body of Rail Baltica project in Latvia –Eiropas Dzelzceļa līnijas, Ltd. – has announced an international construction tender for the Rail Baltica station and related infrastructure in Riga International Airport. The first phase is devoted to the selection of qualified candidates. The entire scope of the tender includes the Rail Baltica station building in Riga International Airport, overpass, access roads, embankment, 6 km long section of railway tracks and overpass over K. Ulmaņa gatve.
Tālis Linkaits, Transport Minister: “Rail Baltica railway connection to Riga Airport is a modern, convenient and environmentally friendly alternative to passenger mobility. It will expand the Airport catchment area to Lithuania and Estonia. This connection is also important for traffic coming into Riga. By setting up a park & ride available at the Airport, residents will reach Riga centre by train in eight minutes.“
Kaspars Vingris, Chairman of the Board of Eiropas Dzelzceļa līnijas: “Rail Baltica station will be the first high-speed rail and air traffic connection hub in the Baltic States. The builder will be required to fully integrate the new station, railway tracks, all systems and structures in the current infrastructure making a modern and multi-functional passenger servicing complex, which will be connected to the airport passenger terminal. Solutions of Rail Baltica station balancing comfort of passengers – accessibility and architectonic ambitions are created in such a way as to provide passengers with more comfortable access including higher level of comfort and mobility. Rail Baltica station in Riga International Airport will be a new face of Riga International Airport for many decades to come.”
High qualification requirements have been set for the builders: experience in construction works of public buildings, railway track, as well as new roads. The requirements set for the tenderers will ensure continuity of operation of the airport infrastructure and commercial activity in the airport territory during the construction of the Rail Baltica infrastructure. In addition, in parallel to the construction of Rail Baltica station, the extension of airport passenger terminal and construction of a new air traffic control tower is also planned.
Construction works in Riga International Airport are planned in six phases. Firstly, station building, which is designed in three levels, will be constructed, as well as overpass building structures and access roads with the related infrastructure. These works will be followed by a creation of the building facade, in the solution of which wood has been chosen as the dominating element, thus respecting the traditions of wooden architecture in Latvia, and facade decoration works. Furthermore, mechanical systems will be made, and interior decoration and improvement will take place. These works will be followed by a construction of an overpass between Rīga and Jaunmārupe.
International tender is planned to take place in two phases. The first phase will include selection of candidates, which is planned by January 2020. The second phase is planned for the submission of the proposals submitted by the candidates and negotiations to enter into a contract at the end of 2020 and to commence construction works in 2021. According to the current estimates, amount of the procurement could reach 250–280 million euro. This amount will be clarified upon announcement of the second phase.Just like in the entire Rail Baltica project, funding is to be received for each stage of works separately and will be requested from the EU CEF funds.
“Today’s tender commences preparations for the second construction project within the Rail Baltica project in Latvia. With this tender, one of the most important tasks is to ensure wide participation of local and foreign construction companies to achieve adequate offers based on the current market situation and the scope of the procurement,” says Girts Bramans, RB Rail AS Country Manager Latvia. “Meanwhile other activities in the Rail Baltica project are progressing. Design works in Latvia are ongoing in 123 km from the main line where geotechnical field works have started in November. In addition, procurement of the design services has been announced for the remaining 139 km.”
This is a unique project in in many aspects. This is the first construction design of a new passenger station in Latvia since 1937, as well as the first construction design or railway overpass and 1435 mm standard gauge railway line.
This project is financed by the European Commission and the Ministry of Transport, implemented by Eiropas Dzelzceļa līnijas and RB Rail JSC. So far, highly qualified infrastructure specialists from European countries cooperated in creating the most up-to-date intermodal centre in the Baltic States: design was developed by the association of suppliers PROSIV (Sintagma (Italy), Prodex (Slovakia), Vektors T (Latvia), IDOM/INECO (Spain)), while global scale Italian company RINA Services S.p.A. verified the railway system by providing conclusion on compliance or the railway systems with the European rail interoperability requirements.