LATVIA: Trams fighting the snow
05. - 12. February 2025

Our tram tour will take us to the three Latvian tram systems, the only one in the EU where Russian trams, even recently acquired ones, are in use. Our special focus during this winter trip will be the snow clearing trams. We will see most of them, either in regular use when the weather is snowy and icy, on photo charters exclusively for our group and of course also during the depot visits. Some of the best tram routes in Latvia are waiting for us!

Riga has an extensive network of Czech Tatra trams (8 lines, 101 km), Daugavpils offers a medium-sized system with 5 lines and 8 mainly Russian tram models, and Liepāja sports a single 7.9 km line, for which twelve new trams were recently purchased in Croatia.

During this tram trip to Latvia you can see the latest new cars and lines in the three cities:

• the new Končar TMK 2300LT tram models in Liepāja
• City Stars 71-911E and EVO1 in Daugavpils
• The new routes in Daugavpils (lines 3 and 5 in the north-western part of the city).

TOUR ITINERARY
Day 1 Wednesday 05. February 2025
Individual arrival in Riga and meeting of all participants for dinner in the hotel tonight. I am happy to book a flight ticket at current rates from your preferred departure airport. A taxi from the Riga airport to the hotel costs around 25 €, the transfer is not included in the tour price. Dinner and overnight stay in a centrally located 3* hotel in Riga.

Day 2 Thursday 06. February 2025
We start our tram program with a visit to depot #5, where we see the different types of snow clearing trams available in the depot. The following should be operational: type GS-4: 88012, 88013 and 88014, the four-axle 88008 and the two two-axle 88007 and 88009. We will go out on the line with one of these soecial purpose trams and a Tatra T3 tram. We will then repeat the procedure of visiting the depot and running a photo charter with a snow clearing tram in depots #4 and #3. The rest of the day is free. Overnight in Riga.

Day 3 Friday 07. February 2025
Early departure by bus to Liepāja (215 km) and visit to the tram depot. We then leave the depot with a chartered Tatra KT4D tram and a snow clearing tram. We have requested to travel over the entire network. Free time for the rest of the day. Overnight stay in a 4* hotel in Liepāja, very close to the tram tracks. 

Day 4 Saturday 08. February 2025
Today you can explore the city's tram network on your own. The tram in Liepāja runs every 8 minutes on weekends, offering plenty of great photo opportunities of the new trams in the Baltic winter landscape. After sunset we take the bus back to Riga. Dinner on the way and overnight stay in Riga.

Day 5 Sunday 09. February 2025
Free time to visit the tram network, late afternoon bus ride to Daugavpils (230 km), dinner halfway and overnight stay in a centrally located 3* hotel in Daugavpils.

Day 6 Monday 10. February 2025
We have organized an extensive program for today: we start with a visit to the tram depot and a demonstration of the GS-4 snow clearing vehicle. The articulated tram type 71-631 (vehicles no. 009 and 012) and Tatra T3 (vehicles no. 072-078) are also of interest. After that, we will leave the depot with the chartered C-37 snow clearing vehicle and an RVZ-6 car (061 or 065). On lines 3 and 5, the frequency is "only" 50 minutes, so we have enough time to make well-organized photo stops with our charter. The rest of the day is at our leisure. Overnight in Daugavpils.

Day 7 Tuesday 11. February 2025
Free time along the city's tram lines for your own photos and videos. After sunset we return to Riga by bus. Dinner en route and overnight stay in Riga.

Day 8 Wednesday 12. February 2025
After breakfast our tram tour ends. The airport can be reached by airport bus and of course by taxi (unfortunately not by tram...). A taxi from the airport to the hotel costs around 25 €, the transfer is not included in the tour price. I would be happy to book a flight ticket to your preferred destination airport at current rates.

End of the tour. Experience a unique tram trip through Latvia and discover the fascination of trams in winter.

TOUR PRICE
1.580 Euro per person sharing a double room (no flights included)
   170 Euro Single room supplement
Minimum number of participants 15, Maximum 30. Booking deadline: 15. December 2024, after that on request.


SERVICES
• 7 nights in tourist class hotels in a double room including breakfast
• 4 dinners as a 3-course menu or buffet
• Comfortable coach for the intercity trips
• Tram charters in all 3 cities
• Visit to the tram depots according to the program
• All transfers required according to the itinerary
• Photo permits
• Specialist tour guide on site Luc Koenot
• Tournanager Peter Patt

NOT INCLUDED
• Flights to/from Riga. I am happy to book a flight ticket at current rates
• Transfers in Riga airport-hotel-airport
• Drinks during meals
• Tips (bus driver, charter tram staff) approx. 15 € per participant/day
• Travel insurance (luggage, international health insurance, travel cancellation costs)
• All expenses of a personal nature

GOOD TO KNOW
Latvia is a member of the Schengen area, participants from non-Schengen countries and other nationalities should inquire about the entry rules that apply to them.

Compulsory travel vaccinations are not required for this tram trip, the weather is generally cold and temperatures can fall well below 0°C in winter. The winters during our tram trip to Latvia can range from "classic" with snow and sun at pleasant temperatures just below freezing to "very rough" with winter storms, extreme snowfall and temperatures of -20°C. The tour will run in all weather conditions. Latvia is a modern country where people pay with €, but digital forms of payment are on the rise and cash cannot be used everywhere.
When putting together our tour itinerary, I assume that the trams mentioned are roadworthy and available. However, I cannot guarantee that a particular car will be used or that a particular route will be taken; changes, even at very short notice, are possible. I will endeavour to provide equivalent or similar replacements if necessary. There is no entitlement to reimbursement of travel services, even partial, in these cases of force majeure.

Please remember to book travel insurances: no one is immune to unpleasant health surprises or life events that make a trip impossible. Cheap flight fares are often not refundable except for a few pittances from the airline, and hospital and doctor visits abroad can quickly reach very unpleasant levels.

This trip is not suitable for people with limited mobility. Please note that our trip includes getting on and off on uneven ground, in high-entry vehicles or in environments that do not meet German standards. If you are unsure whether this tour is suitable for you, please contact me.

© Photos on this page: A. Udris, R. Vysocky, P. Dogas, V. Garch