NIB finances the electrification of Rīga’s trolleybus network

• NIB is providing a EUR 15 million loan to Rīgas satiksme to support the electrification and modernisation of the Latvian capital’s trolleybus network.
• The investments will support the expansion of the electrified trolleybus network and the modernization of infrastructure.
• Several of Rīga’s trolleybus routes currently operate beyond existing catenary lines, requiring the use of auxiliary diesel engines. The new financing will enable Rīgas satiksme to extend the overhead power network, allowing fully electric operations across a wider part of the system.

The programme also includes upgrades to traction substations and power supply systems, the reconstruction of existing catenary infrastructure, and the construction of new power lines. The total investment amounts to approximately EUR 20 million.

“This project is an investment in a more environmentally sustainable public transport system. By expanding the trolleybus overhead wire network and modernising the supporting infrastructure, we will reduce reliance on diesel engines, improve the reliability of power supply systems, and ensure more efficient public transport operations in the long term,” says Jānis Naglis, Member of the Management Board of Rīgas satiksme.

“Clean and reliable public transport is essential for sustainable urban development,” says Kaspars Pīlādzis, Senior Banker and Country Lead for Latvia at NIB. “This investment will expand electric operations in Rīga, support the continued development of the city’s transport network, and accelerate the transition to more sustainable urban mobility.”

The planned upgrades will enhance network reliability and safety by reducing power outages, voltage drops, and service delays. Modernised substations, new feeders, and upgraded switchgear will strengthen operational resilience across a network serving around 40 million passenger trips annually.

Rīgas satiksme is a municipally owned company responsible for providing public transport services within the administrative territory of Rīga. The company operates buses, trolleybuses, and trams, manages paid parking facilities, and participates in the maintenance and development of the city’s transport infrastructure.

NIB is the international financial institution of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden. The Bank finances projects that improve productivity and benefit the environment of the Nordic-Baltic region. The Bank is headquartered in Helsinki with a regional hub in Riga. NIB has the highest possible credit rating, AAA/Aaa, with S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s.

For further information, please contact

Kaspars Pīlādzis, Senior Banker, Country Lead for Latvia, +358 10 618 0391, kaspars.piladzis@nib.int

Elīna Neimane, Senior Communications Officer, +358 10 618 0871, elina.neimane@nib.int