Riga Orders Škoda 15T Trams
Škoda Transportation have signed a contract with the city of Rīgas Satiksme to provide 20 low-floor Škoda 15T trams for the Rīgas Satiksme tram fleet. The first of the trams will be delivered from 2017 onwards. The trams will operate on Route No. 4 to Imanta, significantly enhancing passenger services in the city.
The contract is worth a total of €62.5 million. The three-section trams (15T Riga 2) cost €2.7 million each, and the four-section trams (15T Riga 2A) cost €3.5 million each. The final contract represents the end of a procurement process. The trams will be paid for over the course of 15 years, following a three year “grace period”, and with an interest rate of 2.7% plus a 6-month EURIBOR (Euro Interbank Offered Rate) rate.
Rīgas Satiksme operates a fleet of 189 trams, 26 of which are low-floor vehicles. These operate on routes Nos. 6 and 11 and were acquired in 2008 from Škoda Tranportation. Use of trams is encouraged in Riga by reason of their environmental sustainability and efficiency. The average speed of the Riga fleet is 16.7km/h, operating on 124km of track. The city has 242 tram stops, servicing 34 million passengers annually.
Škoda 15T Trams
The 15T trams feature air conditioning, electronic payment systems, displays, video monitoring systems, passenger-counting systems, maintenance parts and other equipment. The contract relates to the manufacture and delivery of 15 three-section and 5 four-section trams. They have been adapted to meet the needs of passengers with limited mobility and physical impairments. The trams must also meet safety standards to operate in Riga without reconstruction. The trams come with a guarantee of three years, and a service period of 30 years.
