Latvia public transport fares may increase by 10% in 2027

The Public Transport Council has supported the regular review of travel costs in Latvia, potentially leading to a 10% fare increase in 2027. This proposal, outlined in an information report from the Ministry of Transport, aims to address rising service costs and the need for annual indexation in regional transport contracts.

If implemented, the changes would apply to both buses and trains, as they share a unified tariff system. The Ministry noted that if the state budget cannot provide increased funding for annual indexation, compensatory measures must be considered. These measures could include optimizing route networks, changing tariff policies, or introducing co-payments for those currently receiving travel discounts.

To fully offset the impact of price indexation through network optimization alone, the regional bus route network would need to be reduced by at least 11 million kilometers annually from its current 65.7 million kilometers. However, the Ministry stated that maintaining the current network size through at least 2026 is a priority, as significant reductions would critically affect population mobility.