Network of subsidized regional bus routes to be cut by 16% in 2026

RIGA - Latvia's network of subsidized regional bus routes is planned to be slashed by 11.06 million kilometrs, or 16 percent, to 56.154 million kilometers next year, the Public Transport Council decided on Thursday.

In accordance with the plan, unprofitable routes and routes used by a small number of passengers will be scrapped in each part of the subsidized bus route network.

The total rail route network for 2026 is planned at 8.045 million kilometers, 630,937 kilometers or 7.3 percent shorter than in the 2025 forecast. For example, on the Riga-Jelgava line, the 60-minute interval will be left unchanged next year instead of reducing it to the planned 30 minutes.

At the same, the Road Traffic Administration had included in the agenda proposals on bus routes and services that could potentially be operated on a commercial basis.

Annija Novikova, chair of the Public Transport Council, said at the forecast for the route network is meant for subsidized bus services and that the Road Traffic Administration will have to indicate the amount of services going to commercial transport.

"We are looking for solutions, we are no longer building such a large subsidized network because passenger habits have changed and passenger traffic is not what it used to be. Of course, a small number of departures will be scrapped, but other solutions will be in place," Novikova stressed.

The Road Traffic Administration's chair Janis Lapins explained that this is the Road Traffic Administration's vision at the moment and does not mean that on January 1 the scheduled services will be closed, but it will be a gradual process and commercial routes will be phased in gradually.

Transport Minister Atis Svinka (Progressives) stressed that people should have access to public transport and that fare discounts for orphans, large families and others should be left in place. However, the national budget is a complex process, as the most important task is to strengthen defense, and therefore balanced solutions have to be adopted.

He stressed that the Road Traffic Administration needs to continue the process of digitization to obtain more accurate data.

Svinka also added that funding has been found for the development of on-demand road transport.