BERERIX has completed the major works within the southern section of Riga Central Station, with Rail Baltica confirming that railway infrastructure must now be completed before passenger services can begin.
BERERIX has completed all major works within the planned scope on the southern section of the new Riga Central Station building, the adjacent public square and passenger platforms, marking a significant milestone in the development of the Rail Baltica project.
The FIDIC Engineer supervising the construction works has issued a Certificate of Substantial Completion to BERERIX and the client, Eiropas Dzelzceļa līnijas. The completed works include facade and roof glazing, the majority of decorative and functional elements, passenger platforms and landscaping, as well as paving and landscaping of the adjacent public square.
The milestone means the new station building has now acquired its intended architectural appearance and functionality. However, additional information from Rail Baltica clarifies that substantial completion of the building does not mean passengers can immediately use the new facilities.
Railway infrastructure remains before passenger services
Rail Baltica confirmed that, by August 31, 2026, all major works within the scope of the Recovery and Resilience Facility-funded project must be completed. These include the roof and facade, platform canopies, passenger access infrastructure, essential interior finishing works, and the main mechanical, electrical and plumbing works.
Following the completion of this scope, a Certificate of Substantial Completion will be issued, confirming that the major works required under the contract have been completed.
The latest milestone therefore represents a substantial step in transforming Riga Central Station into a modern Rail Baltica hub”
Minor landscaping and finishing works in the building, on the platforms and in the adjacent public square will continue until the end of 2026 in preparation for handing over the facility to Eiropas Dzelzceļa līnijas.
For trains to be able to serve passengers from the new southern section of Riga Central Station, the 1520mm gauge railway infrastructure must first be completed. This includes railway tracks and switches, signalling systems, overhead contact lines and other railway power supply infrastructure, safety systems, as well as the necessary testing, commissioning, and handover procedures.
Full passenger operations in the southern section of the station are therefore linked to the completion and commissioning of the 1520mm gauge railway infrastructure, which is currently planned for mid-2028.
This provides an important distinction for the wider Rail Baltica programme. While the physical station infrastructure is reaching substantial completion during 2026, the railway systems required to operate trains remain a critical part of the delivery programme.
Station takes shape ahead of 2028
Construction works, fully financed by the European Recovery and Resilience Facility, resumed in April 2025. The package included installation of the roof and facade, construction of platform canopies, finishing works, passenger access infrastructure and external and internal utility networks and engineering systems.
Dāvis Blaus, Member of the Management Board of Eiropas Dzelzceļa līnijas, said: “From the very start, the Rail Baltica project at Riga Central Station and in the heart of the capital has been planned and implemented with the interests and convenience of the public, passengers, the city of Riga, the people of Latvia and visitors in mind.”
He added that the completed southern section allows the public to see what the station, platforms and additional premises will look like when trains begin arriving in 2028.
BERERIX CEO Guntis Āboltiņš-Āboliņš also stressed that the infrastructure’s full operation depends on the completion of other parts of the project, including the railway tracks.
The latest milestone therefore represents a substantial step in transforming Riga Central Station into a modern Rail Baltica hub, while the completion and commissioning of the railway infrastructure remains the next critical stage before passenger services can begin.
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