Latvian Government Approves Extension for Rail Baltica Riga Airport Connection Construction Until 2029

On Tuesday, July 21, 2026, the Cabinet of Ministers supported amendments to the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) ninth project call (CEF9G) agreement. These amendments will allow the continuation of construction of the Rail Baltica section linking Riga Airport station to Imanta station and extend the project deadline to December 31, 2029.

According to the Ministry of Transport, in December 2024 the government had already approved a scenario prioritizing the completion of both Riga stations – the airport and the southern part of Riga Central Station – as well as the construction of a new line from Imanta to the airport. The company "European Railway Lines" (EDzL) prepared the amendment proposals to be submitted to the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA).

Under the current EDzL schedule, construction could finish by mid-2029, but extending the deadline to the end of the year reduces the risk of delays and ensures compliance with the eligible cost period. The government had previously allocated up to €29.2 million in pre-financing to maintain construction continuity.

As a result of the financial reallocation, available funding for Latvian construction activities will increase by €215,372 (excluding VAT), using savings from the RB Rail Latvian and Estonian portions. Additional funding will come from unused resources for geodetic point establishment (€102,722). Meanwhile, Latvia's total state budget contribution under the CEF9G agreement will decrease by €138,360.

CINEA has conceptually agreed to extend the northern estacade of Riga Airport by about 500 meters towards Riga Central Station. The amendments will not affect Recovery Fund investments in Riga Central Station. The total cost of the Riga node project is €264.17 million, including Cohesion Fund resources.