"We have respected the candidates' suggestion and extended the deadline for submitting the technical and financial offer from August 3 to August 25. We are interested in receiving balanced and detailed offers. We have introduced the contestants to the project both remotely and in person. The project is very complicated. We can compare this with another important part of the Rail Baltica project in Latvia, which was no less complicated: the construction of the Rail Baltica station at Riga Central Station. The volume of the contract with the winner, including the annexes, reached over 10 000 pages. This shows that the contestants also have to do a lot of homework in order to be able to professionally prepare and submit high-quality technical and financial offers. This gives us confidence that a high level of competition will be ensured and there will be opportunities to choose not only the best, but also the most cost-effective construction offer. Despite the slight extension of the tender, the project implementation deadlines will not be affected, as we plan to sign a contract with the winner of the tender at the end of 2020 and start construction works in 2021,” Kaspars Vingris, Chairman of the Board at Eiropas Dzelzceļa Līnijas Ltd.

Due to the competition taking place during very tense times caused by the COVID pandemic, its organizer, the Eiropas Dzelzceļa Līnijas Ltd had created opportunities for candidates to become better acquainted with the project and prepare for the competition. Thus, for example, respecting the state of emergency declared in the country, the applicants could not get acquainted with this section of the route in person. A modern technological solution was found, and candidates could get acquainted with the site using drone footage.

On 4 June, European Railways organized a remote meeting for candidates, and the large number of participants confirmed that candidates were actively preparing to submit a financial and technical proposal.

With the lift of the emergency restrictions caused by the virus, on 1 July representatives of nine associations participating in the international tender carried out an in-person inspection of the project construction site, confirming active preparations for the second round of the tender.

To recall, in the second stage of the international tender for the construction of Rail Baltica station at the Riga International Airport and its related infrastructure, 11 candidates from 8 countries have qualified: Latvia, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, France, Turkey and Austria. In the first stage of the tender, the qualifications of the candidates were evaluated.

In the second stage of the competition, candidates will submit a technical and financial offer to the Rail Baltica project implementer in Latvia - Eiropas Dzelzceļa līnijas Ltd by 3 August.

To recall, in November 2019, Eiropas Dzelzceļa līnijas Ltd announced an international tender to find a construction company for the construction of the overpass, access roads, embankment, six-kilometre railway section and overpass over K. Ulmanis street for the Rail Baltica station at the Riga International Airport.

High qualification requirements have been set for constructors: experience in construction of public buildings, railway tracks, as well as new highways.

The international competition takes place in two stages. The selection of candidates took place in the first round. At the beginning of this year, 11 tender applications from companies in Latvia, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, France, Turkey and Austria were received. The offer submission prepared by the candidates as well as negotiations have been planned for the second round of the tender in order to sign a contract by the end of 2020 and start the first round of construction works in 2021. It was previously estimated that the total amount of the procurement could be between EUR 250 million - 280 million.

Construction works are planned in five stages: first, a three level station building, overpass structures and access roads with related infrastructure will be constructed. Then the creation of the facade of the station building will follow, for which, respecting the traditions of Latvian wooden architecture, wood has been chosen as the dominant element along with the finishing works, mechanical systems, interior decoration and improvement. Later on, the construction of an overpass to Riga and Jaunmarupe will take place. In order for the railway to take up less space, Rail Baltica railway and station at the Riga Airport will be located on a railway overpass, which will be about 10 meters high. An embankment and a 113 m long railway overpass over K. Ulmanis street will be created. The final stage will be the construction of tracks. It is planned to build two railway tracks so that the Rail Baltica high-speed train could run on the newly built railway 4 times a day, and a shuttle connecting the airport and the Central Station in Riga approximately every 30 minutes. It will allow passengers to get from the airport to the city center in 8 minutes. The creation of the infrastructure will also provide an opportunity to expand cargo handling services, as it will be possible to establish a connection of the freight railway branch to the airport territory.

The project is funded by the European Commission and the Ministry of Transport, implemented by Eiropas Dzelzceļa Līnijas Ltd and RB Rail AS.