Baltics' railway station of the future

Riga's railway station has always been unique in the Baltics. Whereas in Tallinn and Vilnius the central train stations are off the beaten track, Riga's is a thoroughfare for a multitude of both inner-city and out-of-town commuters. Just drop by the station at any point in the day and you will witness an endless throng of Rigans hustling about.

Since the beginning of 2001, however, both the station and the surrounding square have been turned into a quasi-battleground, as mass construction moved in to accompany the scurrying hordes.

But if all goes according to plan, the railway station and adjacent square will by the end of the year boast one of the largest, most dynamic communication, shopping and entertainment centers in the Baltics.

The $35 million railway station reconstruction project that promises to transform downtown Riga is the creation of Linstow Varner, a Norwegian real estate developer and shopping center operator.

Linstow Varner has made a total of $60 million in investments in the Baltic states since entering the market in 1996, and the 62,000-square-meter railway station center, to be called Origo, is its most ambitious. Half of the new space will be allocated to a mega-shopping center, while the rest will be filled with offices, storage space and a parking garage.

Indeed, the railway station project is all about location: visitors will have access to all forms of transportation, including suburban trains, and Old Town is literally across the street.

"This is the main key to success of this huge project," admitted Rems Razums, public relations director of Linstow Varner.

"One hundred thousand people pass through the station every day, and traffic is expected to increase. That is why our typical consumer is spontaneous," he said, referring to station clientele as "people on the move."

Linstow Varner, in cooperation with Sarma & Norde, an architect's bureau, created the project's concept, which is to keep the station's original purpose as a means of transportation and to attract non-commuters keen on having a mega-shopping center in the heart of downtown.

"Technically this project is very complicated due to insuring passenger and traffic flow. Nevertheless, the work is going according to plan," said Razums.

The project has taken place in several phases, with both the local passenger and main halls of the station undergoing refurbishment in summer 2001.

In spring 2003 Linstow Varner plans to finish the major part of the head building. In May the shopping center should open, along with the underground parking lot, and by September the station clock and the second part of the "railway station of the future" should be completed.

The center itself - called Origo - will feature shopping, entertainment and a food court. Many of the retailers will be selected on the basis of what and how well they can service "people on the move."

A Rimi grocery store will occupy the largest area.

"We expect Origo won't take away costumers of big shopping centers that are located outside the center of the capital. However, it is possible we will seriously compete with small shops downtown," Razums said.

The name Origo comes from the Latin word meaning "center" or "beginning," which fits nicely with investors' concept and ambitions.

Project developers are particularly passionate about the train station clock tower, which will also undergo a facelift and light up the entire center.

"The clock has always been a favorite place to meet," said Razums.