PM Kulbergs criticizes rail company LatRailNet over delay on Russian grain transit fee

Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs (AS) openly criticized AS "LatRailNet," a subsidiary of state railway company VAS "Latvijas dzelzceļš" (LDz), on Tuesday following a government meeting, over its failure to address the issue of railway infrastructure fees for transit of grain cargo originating in Russia.

According to Kulbergs, the company has still not set a tripled fee for such cargo, as had been expected, instead raising it by only 24%. The prime minister said this outcome was not understandable to him, voicing dissatisfaction with both the pace and the result of LatRailNet's decision-making on the matter.

Background

The question of infrastructure fees for Russian grain transit ties into a broader debate over economic relations and transit policy toward Russia. Introducing a tripled fee would have represented a far more significant step than the 24% increase actually implemented, and the gap between the expected and actual decision became the basis for the prime minister's criticism.

Kulbergs made his remarks after a regular government meeting, indicating the matter had been discussed at the cabinet level. No further details were provided on when or whether LatRailNet plans to revise the fee, nor on the reasons the originally planned tripling was not carried out.

The source report does not specify a timeline for a final decision on the size of the fee.