Renovations initiated for enhancing accessibility at six Riga railway stations

In a significant move towards modernising Riga's railway infrastructure, plans are underway to upgrade mobility points at several stations, including Sarkandaugava, Vecāķi, Bērnu slimnīca, Vecdaugava, Zemitāni, Ziemeļblāzma, Dauderi, Šķirotava, and Bolderāja. The first of these upgrades will be completed at the Sarkandaugava station within a year, at a cost of 33 million euros, with most funding coming from the European Union.

The focus of these improvements is on enhancing accessibility for strollers, wheelchairs, and ensuring overall pedestrian safety. The Sarkandaugava station, currently located in a poorly maintained area with a road leading to it, Sliežu Street, in a state of disrepair with potholes and puddles, will see a transformation. An old, abandoned parking lot near the station will be replaced with new infrastructure.

The new mobility point at Sarkandaugava is expected to feature lighting, bicycle racks, parking spaces for cars, and raised pedestrian crossings, making it more accessible for all users. Strollers and wheelchairs will have convenient access to the mobility point. Additionally, a new trolleybus entrance is being built at the station, going all the way to the railway platforms.

Pedestrian traffic will be organised along the pedestrian bridge near the Zemitāni railway station during the construction work. The existing concrete stairs on the city centre side near Zemitāni station and on the Purvciems side near the "Domina" shopping centre will be dismantled during the construction work. Public transport stops in both directions on the Jorģa Zemitāna bridge will also be closed, and residents are invited to use the stops located on both sides of the bridge near TC "Domina" and on A. Čaka Street during the construction work at the Zemitāni mobility point.

Looking beyond Riga, there are examples of modern, accessible transport hubs in the Baltic region that could serve as inspiration. The Ülemiste Linda Terminal project in Estonia, set to be completed by 2028, features wide platforms designed for easy passenger flow, including those with mobility aids such as strollers and wheelchairs. The terminal also integrates pedestrian and cycling paths alongside tram lines and bus terminals to enhance pedestrian safety and multimodal connectivity.

As we move towards 2025, there is a trend towards ensuring accessible railway stations and platforms that accommodate mobility devices, adequate space and facilities for those travelling with bicycles and strollers, and enhanced designs for pedestrian safety around transport hubs. These recommendations could be particularly relevant for Riga's railway stations, aiming to integrate the railway into the city and popularise its use.

Passenger train service to Bolderāja is currently not available, but it is planned to be restored by the time the mobility point is completed at the Sarkandaugava station. While no detailed renovation plans specific to Riga have been found in current search results, leveraging regional best practices as exemplified by the Ülemiste Linda Terminal's design philosophy could significantly advance Riga's railway stations' accessibility and safety for vulnerable user groups.

The upgrade of the Sarkandaugava station's mobility point, funded largely by the European Union, includes installations like lighting, bicycle racks, car parking spaces, and raised pedestrian crossings, ensuring accessibility for strollers and wheelchairs.
In a bid to emulate modern, accessible transport hubs in the Baltic region, such as the Ülemiste Linda Terminal in Estonia, Riga's transport infrastructure might incorporate wide platforms accommodating mobility aids, pedestrian and cycling paths for enhanced safety and connectivity, and designs that prioritize pedestrian safety around transport hubs.
As a part of Riga's modernization efforts, it is planned to restore passenger train service to Bolderāja by the time the Sarkandaugava station's mobility point is completed.
In order to advance Riga's railway stations' accessibility and safety for vulnerable user groups, the design philosophies exemplified by the Ülemiste Linda Terminal could be leveraged, such as ensuring adequate space and facilities for those traveling with bicycles and strollers, and integrating transportation modes to create a more inclusive and user-friendly system.