Passenger carriers call for increased regional public transport ticket tariffs / day
Oshenieks points to a number of issues in long -term contracts. Among other things, carriers may be insolvency risks already this year, as well as failure to fulfill the obligations taken on the contracts in qualitatively and properly. Similarly, one of the problems is the cancellation of flights due to the lack of bus drivers related to the limited opportunities for carriers to ensure that the market is relevant to the market situation.
He also adds that the cancellation of flights can be due to technical problems associated with the increase in bus purchases and repairs and the inability to restore and maintain the fleet due to limited resources. At the same time, the cancellation of flights will also limit the possibilities of mobility of vulnerable society, adds Ošenieks.
Therefore, the LPPA calls on the Ministry of Transport (MoU), the Ministry of Finance (MoF), the Public Transport Council and the Road Transport Directorate (ATD) urgently take the necessary steps to stabilize the financial situation for public transport service providers in the regional route network.
Among other things, carriers require the MoU and the MoF to allocate additional funding of EUR 15 million by April 25 to cover losses for public transport service providers, as well as to increase the state budget base for this objective by EUR 15 million in the state budget for 2026.
At the same time, the LPPA calls on ATD by May 5 to amend long -term contracts for carriers, which provide for a review of prices out of contracts, as well as the Public Transport Council to decide on changes to ticket tariffs from July 1st and in the future to decide on tariff changes every year.
If these requirements are not met, passenger carriers are preparing for possible public shares to attract the public’s attention to the problems of the industry.
It has already been reported that in 2025, a grant for regional public transport service providers, including trains and buses, amounts to EUR 93.8 million, while EUR 25 million is available to public funding for public transport.
The ATD, on the other hand, plans to inform the next Public Transport Council meeting on April 30 about possible changes in the ticket tariff in regional public transport.
ATD previously emphasized that the decision on the fare should be made at the public transport board meeting. Conversely, two to three months are needed to make changes to the tariff.
The LPPA is an association that brings together companies related to more than 30 passenger carriers and passenger transport.
