Regional bus and train fares in Latvia to rise by about 10% in 2027

Latvia's Public Transport Council on Friday supported raising fares on regional buses and trains by an average of 10% in 2027, according to the Road Transport Administration (ATD), the state body overseeing public transport. The new tariffs are due to take effect no later than 15 February 2027.

Tomass Beikulis, head of the ATD's Public Transport Department, told the council that the increase could bring in roughly 3.2 million euros in extra ticket revenue a year. The forecast assumes the route network stays unchanged. State budget funding for regional public transport in 2027 stands at 93.78 million euros.

How prices will change

In the zone system, tickets in all five zones, A to E, will go up by 0.2 euros. The A zone fare rises from 1.5 to 1.7 euros (13.3%), B from 2.3 to 2.5 euros, C from 2.8 to 3 euros, D from 3.3 to 3.5 euros, and E from 3.8 to 4 euros (5.3%). The uniform increase was chosen to preserve the 0.5-euro step between zones.

Outside the zone system, prices are set to rise by about 10–11%. A train ticket from Riga to Daugavpils will go from 8.9 to 9.8 euros, and Riga to Indra from 11.7 to 12.9 euros. A bus ticket from Riga to Liepaja will cost 11.9 euros instead of 10.6.

The minimum fare in Riga will increase from 1.5 to 1.7 euros, in other state cities from 1.2 to 1.3 euros, and at other stops from 0.9 to 1 euro. A separate bicycle ticket priced at 30% of a single-trip fare is also planned, and the baggage ticket will be renamed the "Baggage or animal ticket".

Background

The Ministry of Transport has put forward three options for 2027–2030. It considers practical the one combining a 10% fare rise with a review of the concession system, capping state support at 70% of the fare. Without extra funding, about 794 bus trips might have to be cut.