After Seven Years of Waiting, Limbaži and Sigulda Districts to Get New Public Transport Operator

Significant changes are coming to public transport in the Vidzeme region from the beginning of July. The historic operator CATA will be replaced by VTU Valmiera, a company owned by the Valmiera municipality, which won a tender organized by the Autotransporta direkcija (Road Transport Administration). The route networks of Limbaži, Sigulda, and Cēsis were the last ones where, since 2019, it had not been possible to conclude a long-term contract for public transport services due to unsuccessful competitions and subsequent litigation. These legal challenges repeatedly delayed the selection of a new operator. Until now, services were continued by the previous operator under short-term agreements. After seven years of waiting, a solution has finally been reached, and from July 1, VTU Valmiera will take over responsibility for these routes. The company has already demonstrated its capacity on other routes in the Vidzeme region. These changes are part of a broader reorganization of the public transport system managed by the Autotransporta direkcija.