Would you ride Latvia’s SOVIET EXPRESS train?

[@bencns]

As a Canadian I find it kind of funny to see that these Soviet trains are considered old when most of our passenger fleet was made in the 1940s

[@bussesandtrains1218]

budd don't break

[@Cocc0nuttt0]

I haven't been on Via Rail but I've been on Amtrak. It's okay, but the whole infrastructure feels like a backwater European town. There's a single platform at the station between Vancouver and Portland and the train runs 3 times a day. So if you're there after hours, you're stuck. You must be joking...

[@wilfstor3078]

Them Budd cars were built like frickin tanks, and have been rebuilt several times, still have a lot of life in them LRC's are from the 70s and have also had a few rebuilds, but some of those are starting to look a little tired...

[@qjtvaddict]

American passenger trains are 💩 tier

[@mehurar]

Lol

[@wilfstor3078]

I can't help but notice that those seats, have just been salvaged from 90s era coach busses, the way those arm rests work was the biggest giveaway...

[@lkrnpk]

Yup as a Latvian I gave to say it is some local know-how 😃

[@arch9enius]

I thought they were off something else when he said all the power recline buttons were not working . But I think the feature that lets you edge away from your neighbor was a good one. ...

[@Sciffyan]

These seats are german-made, by Vogelsitze company. The model is old, though, and lacking some functionality for some reason. Unfortunately, not every person's back feels ok after sitting for a couple of hours in these seats. Mine doesn't

[@Patrick_RBX]

that was something i was also thinking, bus seats xd

[@mikkol3]

Exactly what I thought, I remember the option to slide into the aisle on bus school trips, only place I ever encountered this option

[@лея-у1ж]

We do have new trains, but those old ones will always be in my heart since childhood

[@1994CivicGLi]

Fun fact: I believe the passenger locomotives in Half-Life 2 are based on the DR-1A.

[@LeonidJP92]

I always thought it was a copy of ER-2 that changed for making cinema effect (???)

[@JarQfDirt]

It is

[@SeverityOne]

Yup. Half-life has its own wiki, and there is an extensive article on trains.

[@PersonManManManMan]

I thought they looked similar

[@4erbuks]

u are not far off hl universe is based around soviet citys and playing half life gives that old soviet feeling e specially cars and trains !

[@shogun2215]

Valga to Riga, a journey of 2.5hrs or so, cost £5. In the UK, a similar length journey from a small town to the capital, London, would cost at least £50. We are ripped off in the UK.

[@stupidvoiceofreason]

You can't just compare prices without comparing incomes of households tho

[@Savadais]

I bet you get paid a bit more than 5 euro an hour in UK.

[@eanayayo]

Even in russia where typical income is 2-4 EUR per hour same distance and time train trip costs 6 EUR.

[@Ornateluna]

@@stupidvoiceofreasonbut they definitely aren't paid 10x the hourly rate, my sister earns about 2,5 to 3x of my income

[@unixoid33]

Well, here we need to look at who else has higher salaries and prices for other services. For example, in Latvia we have 1200 euros, but many receive a salary of 600-800 euros. I think gasoline and food cost the same here

[@legouniverse8976]

Yesses, Latvia mentioned🇱🇻🇱🇻🇱🇻 What the heck is same level boarding on a train🇱🇻🇱🇻👌

[@SGtravelsEU]

that's what a few 16Ev's have on a few platforms around Riga🤣

[@Sciffyan]

@@SGtravelsEU it was a joke

[@NaurisStaltmanis]

the thing we have on the new Škoda electric trains near Rīga

[@vulc1]

@@NaurisStaltmanis What, I thought they are pulled out of service for repairs

[@NaurisStaltmanis]

@vulc1 well, some of them (mostly when something goes wrong, i think), but 10 or 15 are carrying passengers around

[@martinlatvian5538]

I love these old trains. They have some kind of romance. And I often did use the opurtunity to have a smoke in the lavatory at open window catching warm summer breeze.

[@justpf]

Oh these and other soviet trains do have the level boarding, you just need a high platform 😂 which isn’t a joke btw-in the ussr the platforms were standardized: one type for high (typically within big cities) and one for low (rest of the country). For the high platforms they will just close the stairs in the tambour and voila you kinda get a step-free entrance.

[@mratp123]

The only reason why there is level boarding at Valga is because of the Estonian standard platform... it looks cool tbh, but you will never see anything like that in Latvia...😅

[@eutral]

As I remember, at one point in Estonia the trains had half of the doors for low platform and the others for high platform. Station platforms were also either high or low and on each station the appropriate doors opened. I was really young at that time tho

[@lkrnpk]

Latvia does have same level boarding as in Estonia but not country wide, only at some bigger stations sadly… and Jurmala direction… but all commuter rail will have level boarding soon (except Rail Baltica stations which is a separate project)

[@detlefmann7433]

Very progressive and genious the mechanic into the stairs from over 50 years 👍🏼👍🏼

[@ikilius]

@@mratp123hahaha another estonian with a superiority complex:D dont worry, most train platforms in latvia are currently undergoing modernisation works - this video will become historical soon enough

[@folkmanis]

Wrong about poles - these are from 1980's when line has been electrified in short section between Riga/Zemitāni (then Oškalni) and Garkalne (then Ropaži). Then USSR collapsed, electrification works has been stopped and catenary dismantled. Just poles remained. There are plans to re-electrify this line, but currently no works are in progress. Althought other, already eletrified, lines are under renovation so they can be switched from 3kV DC to 25kV AC in future.

[@AlexTransportGames]

Amazing to finally see a video from my country! Will be interested in seeing more trains like the ER2s, DR1AC's or Skoda 16Ev's

[@jmcortade8161]

Yup, Latvia still has the "good" old soviet trains. We still have some Dr1a on some route in Lithuania, but they'll get phased out someday soon.

[@paulisjanovs]

As a Latvian myself, it is quite interesting to see our trains being judged! Cool video! The “hole” behind the trains table used to be a cup holder, but you sat in a seat where it is broken

[@lordtom1963]

I travelled through the Baltics last September and also took this train, but from Riga to Valga. It was a pleasant ride ^^ I'm happy you made a video about it

[@martonify]

10:33 are actually poles placed there during electrification just before the fall of the USSR which was planned to go all the way to Sigulda. Officially it is known that trail runs were conducted up to the station Garkalne, at that time known as Ropaži. During the fall of the USSR there was no money for this project and it is said that among the many problems during that time parts of the network were stolen.

[@maxart3392]

Nice video. Those seats are actually bus seats and you can see similar ones (well, probably not any longer) on the German busses like Mercedes, Setra or MAN from the 1990s. The button that pushes the seat into the aisle makes sense on busses on longer routes, as the shoulder space is quite limited there and few people walk down the aisle when driving. That also explains the small size of the table, while the hole in it may be tha place where the ashtray used to be placed (yes, long time ago there were ashtrays on busses and trains and smoking was allowed - not a pretty picture).

[@patricklnz]

Looks like those seats are from the German company Vogel.

[@wteff8586]

I actually remember these exact seats from school trips and summer camp in germany :D

[@marcd6897]

@maxart13392 yeah, looks indeed familiar. On a side note, I’m so glad that smoking was banned from buses, restaurants and hotel rooms. Fun fact, another thing where people feared humanity would stop existing when smoking ban comes into effect… 😂

[@moxame]

They actually still use this exact pattern in pretty new busses where I live (in Germany). 😅

[@arch9enius]

They did look very small when installed in a train .

[@nomistraveller780]

Latvia is a beautiful country. Ive rode this train (and some others😊) last august from Cēsis. By the way: Cēsis is one of the prettiest cities in the Baltics! Great vid!

[@edzus100]

Clearly ... you say so just because you didnt visit my town Kuldiga ...

[@andrejsgelins9296]

​@@edzus100 Kuldīga is absolutely gorgeous. As most of our small cities and countryside are. Unless it's late autumn or early spring, then I can see how it would feel slightly depressing, as it's just dirt everywhere😅

[@eustacemcgoodboy9702]

@@edzus100Kuldiga needs a massive renovation project but yea it could be nice.

[@StefansAizupietis-gb7xs]

Latvia def isnt a beutiful country

[@Forcoy]

It's beautiful in the spring and the summer. Gotta say, though, as a latvian: latvian winter is depressing. Whatever feeling of beauty you get from the snow instantly disappears when you have to spend multiple months stuck inside with no sun.

[@DJKLProductions]

I travelled on exactly this line once on a two-day trip: from Riga to Sigulda in the morning and back again in the evening the next day. I think trains like this are great, even if they are long outdated and it's time to replace them. They should be preserved as a museum and continue to be used for special trips. The multiple unit I travelled in had a 3+2 layout. The speed is more like a sight-seeing train, but with the beautiful scenery, that's welcome! The journey back in time was well worth it. As soon as RailBaltica is completed, I hope that a direct night train from Berlin to Tallinn with stops in Warsaw, Kaunas/Vilnius and Riga will be introduced, as well as daytime connections. Travelling the Baltic States without a plane or intercity bus is a dream!

[@qjtvaddict]

It would probably be a frequent service

[@andrewsittermann2081]

In the 90s you could travel from Lithuania to Estonia via Latvia with no change of train on the Balti Ekspress. Google "balti ekspress talinn vikipedia" for the Wikipedia article on the service.

[@RaMZes9722]

This Soviet trains will work forever and until their death. Funny thing is that Latvia had few brand new trains this winter... aaaand they failed, badly.

[@SomeUkrainian69_420_1337_228]

When I was a kid, I oftenly travelled on DR-1As. And I loved it, soviet trains are just amazing.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

They really are enjoyable. :)

[@rbrouns9569]

The sideways sliding seats can be found in some travelbuses. The smal tables are also typical for busseats. So i think that they indeed are busseats.

[@AIRDRAC]

Exactly, I was about to write the same thing. Many long distance (4+ hours) Flixbus buses have those seats (minus the funky color scheme), at least here in Scandinavia. They are less common on nicer long distance buses, as they don't convert into flat-ish beds.

[@intikhabhussainmirza1975]

No change since 1997. Thanks for reminding me my old student days at RBS and stay in Riga 1997-1999.

[@unixoid33]

now we have new trains

[@andrejsk6211]

​@@unixoid33Not for anywhere outside of Riga for this line, though, the new trains are only for electrified lines.

[@unixoid33]

@@andrejsk6211 At least they go to Aizkraukle. it is far beyond Riga. Well, yes. not everywhere

[@Altpfurz]

Thanks for this cool video! I'd like to notice, DR-1A is a remotorized version of DR-1 DMU. Initially it had diesel engines made by located in the city of Leningrad the Zvezda (Star) plant. These engines were created for soviet small military ships and civilian hydrofoils. Later they were adapted for DMUs. It was a nightmare of train drivers and mechanics who had to maintain these diesels. Engines were unreliable and voracious. Train crew had to add a lot of motor oil every day. During acceleration these engines smoked like a steam loco. They had very primitive crankcase ventilation system, its outlets were located on the bottom of the engine room. So, diesel was literally spitting oil down on the rails. The transmission was also unreliable. So, I'm very glad for the Latvian operator of these trainsets, they made the right decision to remotorize them with German MTU diesel engines.

[@cedriclynch]

There is someone who posts under the name "@diiselrong" whom I believe is Estonian and who has put up wonderful histories of various ex-Soviet trains including the DR1, in Russian with English subtitles. Several factories were invited to tender to build these trains; two declined because they had no experience of DMUs. Riga Wagon Works took the project on although it also had no experience of DMUs. This train was one of the first to have aluminium monocoque bodies and also to have disc brakes. The original engine had dry-sump lubrication so that it could be fitted as low as possible in the hull of a motor torpedo boat, which was the application it was originally designed for. There was a pump that scavenged oil from the bottom of the crankcase and returned it to the tank. If this pump was not switched on and working correctly the oil could flood the crankcase, overflow and/or get past the piston rings and make smoke.

[@osasunaitor]

​@@cedriclynchI also follow Diiselrong! He uploads a lot of footage of every type of train in the Baltics

[@biedisunizlietne]

DR1AM is the modernized version with the MTU engines. Sadly, there are still a couple of Zvezda engine DR1A sets still in service. They should be replaced by ~2027, when new BEMU sets enter service

[@SentryTurbo]

i have travelled on this train several times, it's pretty unremarkable and cheap, does the job as expected. i've met a few drunks on board a few times who would approach you asking if you'd like a drink (at 4 in the morning), good times!

[@danguyrandom9683]

This has probably been answered by now, but the "groove" in the seat trays are actually removed cup holders that you can normally pull out same way as the tray table, I rarely ever actually see them due vandalism on these trains, thanks for the content!

[@nivardofloresperez1169]

Good deal on a train slowly looking time go by... There's always something even romantic about these old trains. 👍

[@u1zha]

Rail Baltica construction site is impressive, redoing the entire Riga station (which isn't small) And it will get 1435mm rail running into the Baltic states again!

[@eustacemcgoodboy9702]

It's a NATO funded military project to move tanks and materiel into the Baltics for war with Russia. Dual use military-civilian project.

[@kristapsugainis4952]

​@@eustacemcgoodboy9702Like every rail road 😅

[@somedudeMC]

No, not NATO. Its funded by EU

[@Idonotwanthandle]

@@eustacemcgoodboy9702 Imagine if NATO funded railways in USA...

[@ΚωνσταντίνοςΚυριάκου-λ1υ]

I had traveled between Riga and Jurmala by train 3 years ago in a similar EK2 multiple unit. In that one they hadn't changed the seats for new ones, so they had a 3+3 configuration. It was really amazing riding this train.

[@ikilius]

Hey! You're probably mistaking this diesel train for its electric counterpart - the ER2. The ER2 actually only uses the 3+3 configuration in both old and modernised carriages as it only covers short distances around the capital - they're not supposed to be replaced by these coach bus seats :)

[@ΚωνσταντίνοςΚυριάκου-λ1υ]

@@ikilius Yes I think you are right about the name. I wasn't sure about it myself.

[@maleeshapriyanjana7604]

I really love this train. Although it is old, it is very beautiful. The colours are so beautiful

[@ldzstep]

Valmiera mentioned 🦅

[@thomascat7044]

Glad you visited my country! A nice video to watch, I love the music choice, the shots you showed and all the facts. You have a new subscriber :)

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Thank you! 😃

[@arokh72]

A buffet and first class on a 3 hour train trip? What kind of luxury madness is that? In my part of Australia, a 3 hour train trip is still a commuter service, an intercity commuter service, and there is no buffet or first class.

[@the_g371]

You can cross the whole LV in 3h, for us it is considered a long time, haha

[@jabberwockytdi8901]

These aren't express trains , more suburban and rural DMU's , 1st versions date back to the Soviet era , were designed and built in Riga, but found all over eastern europe and even as far as Cuba. Very similar DMU's with bogie mounted diesel engines in the driving/motor cars were also built in Hungary, but those have an even more old fashioned appearance. Factory that built them survived the soviet era but went out of business by 2017.

[@Sim0nTrains]

Never thought I see the day with trains having 3 + 3 seating. Great review

[@coonnorman9925]

The grooves in the back of the plastic cupholders ( seen at 6:40 ) are from as trays that were banned and removed from the trains in the early 2000s

[@u1zha]

Great report. Lots of forward looking statements. Hehe 😁 I was a commuter for a few years on these diesel trains. And as a kid I enjoyed seeing trains in making, sticking out of the open gates of the RVR facilities, which are on the other side of the curve 10:54

[@Aprill264]

This is a great video. I am planning to make this journey but the other way around (Riga -> Valga and then on to Tartu) this summer, so it's really cool to see you upload this now.

[@kristapshelvigs6121]

great route for train bike combo!

[@normenable]

Wow, such a detailed explanation. I am from Latvia (living few km from Sigulda) and I do approve data accuracy! You even itrigued me to consider this route:)

[@theblackrainbow]

As a Latvian, i have took these trains a few times and in general theyre comfortable and peaceful. What does really make me anxious is the boarding and leaving because of the steps at the entrance.

[@chrisskljavinsh3966]

Actually, Lugazi station is also serving, or it used to, the city of Valka - the border city as there is no train station in Valka itself. Nowadays with no border checkpoints, it would be more convenient just to go to Valga, I think it's within walking distance from Valka center. Back when I was a kid, 25+ years ago I remember having to take a bus to Lugazi from Valka so you could catch a train and not have to cross the border, wasn't as easy back then as it is now, I don't think there was a connection with Valga back then, Lugazi was the last stop.

[@ODESSARAILFAN]

2022 LDZ stopped all electrification plans for their broad gauge network due to lack of funding. Only rail baltica is intended to be electrified. The pillars you saw are over 30 yaers old due to non completed riga garkalne electrification project.

[@riilhiiro]

Latvia intends to electrify to the Riga suburb of Bolderaja, Krustpils and also to Garkalne actually. But further than that is uncertain

[@detroitdieselseries5071]

How Corrupt is Latvia? Must be going to the underdeveloped third world country status

[@corower]

the original (soviet) plans extended electrification at least to Sigulda. posts (and even some wiring, including catenary) was only partially completed, and mainly dismantled during 90ies. :(

[@HakkoChannel]

Diesel trains might be replaced by battery electric - as it might be more cost effective than electrifying tracks as there's so few passengers on unelectrified routes.

[@neurofrank9967]

I have faint memories of seats with that sideways slide option on a coach ages ago. And I find the seats on the train have a coach feeling about them.

[@mihaelverk9507]

Yea it's a common thing on flixbus for example

[@cryohellinc]

What saddens me the most as Latvian is that during Soviet times we had so much industry in this small country, now it's all in ruins and we import literally everything.

[@dudeski6548]

retard we were fucking occupied by genociders

[@Bernie2288]

Thanks for the Video.🤩 I also traveled the baltic states by train last late summer. Those were my favourite trains. I also took it from Liepaja to Riga. I found the engine surprisingly quiet. We have much louder modern diesel rail cars in service in Germany. All in all those trains made the impression to me to be built to last forever :D

[@Mcmuffin-cz5zc]

The groove on the bottom of the table is where a cupholder or something used to be, if you get lucky, on some of the seats it's still inside.

[@RUOKH]

Loved that DR1 of the USSR. Brilliant travelogue, thanks as always.

[@rmnds]

The groove in the back of the table is for a fold-out cup holder that's broken off.

[@KM-fl5jq]

We bought new shiny trains from Škoda - turns out nobody was checking if they have winter package installed.. some birocrats had a lot of questions to answer this January.. xD

[@n.shadowbg.]

I can't stop watching your videos they're so calming for me and informational AND interesting.

[@KOCombo]

ok so as a latvian i can tell u that the cavity in the back of that seat was likely a garbage (tilting) drawer... appears to be missing...

[@Tom-Lahaye]

I have been travelling on the DR1 as well, and I think it was the same line too. Ours had the old style seating with the vinyl upholstery, the ride is actually quite good. They are comparable with class DE3 we had here in the Netherlands, these were from the same era, first built in 1963, also 3 cars of which one a motor car with a luggage and engine compartment, so very similar in layout. Identical comfort too. So when compared with contemporary west European trains of the same era Soviet trains weren't bad at all. Latvia just kept them working a bit longer now, the Dutch DE3 retired in 2003.

[@anxiety1423]

the missing piece in the table is meant for a cup holder, some of them still are in the tables its like a single cup holder so you dont have to open the table fully

[@FVBmovies]

"Daft sounding Vivi" - as Latvian myself, I've yet to hear anyone liking the new branding. Not only did they changed the name, they also changed the ticketing apps which was glitching out for months alongside completely new Škoda trains. So, in short, branding is very unpopular. Seems the ticketing apps are the most disliked apps in our country. I like the DR1A, seats are pretty comfy.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Sounds really bad 🤣

[@davebeat]

There use to be a fold down cup holder in that grove on the seats, but that was ages ago, from what I remember a lot were broken or stuffed with trash, so I guess they just removed them. The fold down table itself is pretty robust though, despite being a bit flexible, I used to extended it and put my laptop on there which was a gaming one around 3kg. I haven't used the train in some time since getting a car in Latvia, but I think they recently retired the older DR1A (with the rounder designed front end).

[@mariosphere]

The seats were certainly previously in a long-distance bus and were reused here.

[@themauwie8933]

Ooh... we have new Skoda trains now. And I didn't anticipated to see a video from my country, awesome.

[@no-damn-alias]

My best guess is that these seats come from long distance coaches and it is not too uncommon for them to slide out so you have more space to the person next to you as during driving the aisle isn't needed most of the time.

[@thewildbunchASD]

the seats look like they come straight out of some 2000's touring cars. the missing parts of the folding tables are to be cup holders.

[@tomsakmens5571]

Currently we are having new trains implemented. Whenever the old one arrives, I get sad.

[@jygeb]

I did the opposite ride, Vilnius-Riga-Valga-Tallinn. Lithuanian 730M offers the most comfort, followed by slightly more dense Estonian Flirts. Latvian DR1A was certainly an outlier. I paid 22 € for ticket of LT train, 5 € for LV and 11 € for EE. It felt surreal that you can cross entire country for so little.

[@thepuffingmuffin7630]

The groove in the seat is where an ashtray would formerly be located. I'm guessing they removed them when they made smoking inside the train prohibited.

[@u1zha]

It's a broken cupholder. Don't think smoking was ever allowed in these cars, not even in vestibules

[@RBldz]

Groove in the seat table used to be a cup holder, before they were removed/broken off

[@markusscelms6593]

there actually are newer trains painted red and gray and hey do offer buiseness class in the end of the wagon and the thing is that the comfort class costs the same but there usually are no people bcuz they think it is more expensive

[@AddDoesStuff]

I was in there last summer, I was travelling from Sigulda to Riga, such beautiful station, all preserved and platforms and such. They do care about quality!

[@MTAFidycentMTA]

The recline function is usually disabled because the staff doesn't want to fix the adjustment once the passengers leave, very common for public transport in Latvia

[@igorsmihailovs52]

I believe that nation-level electrification is cancelled, as we were unable to satisfy the European time schedule for it (and the money was European). The poles You saw stand there since Soviet times, when they planned to electrify the tracks between Riga and Sigulda (a major tourist attraction) but did not make it in time either.

[@brbbiobreak]

This is a false, politically motivated statement. The EU Cohesion Fund would have shouldered 72% of the cost, the Latvian government 6% with the rest falling on the company. However, said electrification project was primarily designed for freight, which has not maintained the desired levels since it's inception in 2014 so it would have been insolvent without additional government funding of 40 million back in early 2020. The new railway electrification project is focused on passenger transport, which like the previous one includes substantial overhauls of the current electrified rail and aims to be fully completed by 2040. There is also a separate project with separate funding for 9 battery powered passenger trains to be run on non-electrified routes by 2026.

[@mariebcfhs9491]

The hole on the tray table you pointed out is probably the storage place for escape hammers.

[@Oivaras]

Have you tried Lithuanian Siaurukas? It's a narrow gauge train, it doesn't have regular passenger service but it does carry tourists on weekends in summer. Trains look almost exactly like this Latvian one, but half the size.

[@straygar]

I believe the groove you mentioned @ 6:38 used to be a cup holder, until somebody broke it off! These used to be common on old buses, as somebody mentioned in the comments.

[@TheOnlyMemeStick]

i love how he pronounces the latvian cities

[@no-damn-alias]

The groove in the table is for a cup holder that could be tilted out. Mostly for busses as they shake a lot while driving and there your drink is secure without much attention and you can still leave your seat while that is much harder with the table down in a bus

[@ILesha07]

Probably it worths to mention. Rails between Baltic capitals and Poland exist, but with 1520 mm track gauge. So, the infrastructure is already capable to run some traffic, e.g. with aligned transfers at border LT/PL, but on some reasons they don't do it. Tallin - Riga route is a great example of how bad it can be, while bus ride takes ~4 hours. For now, they are building European gauge tracks, hope at least them will push them to establish better train service.

[@tomats2311]

one of the reasons is an insufficient number of available rolling stock, but also the unwillingness of govts to sign agreements for establishing the routes

[@Bruhmomentum-0010]

The groove in the seatback table was used for a small cupholder, which could be flipped out. Sadly it seems every single one has been removed/stolen.

[@PneumatinisPlaktukas15]

Latvian-made trains are extremely nice, especially if you can find one with an original interior. These DR1A units are the only Soviet-era trains that still run in Lithuania, which I think is unfortunate as we used to have RVR EMUs until recently.

[@ChrisH-1952]

Always interesting and this one adds to my knowledge of railways in a country I haven't been to. And yes, I did enjoy the photo which you got told off for taking. 😄

[@hallvard74]

As always a wonderful video. I have travelled on this train several times. Not the most comfortable, but a fun experience. I can receommend a stop in the city of Cesis. A very beautiful city. Also Sigulde is great with Latvias only Cable car.

[@piepiepie323232]

I'm pretty sure those grooves in the back of the seats were made for ashtrays/small container for small trash. Just like older ladas for example had ashtrays in the door armrests.

[@dzelzsmalkascirtejs]

Poles beside the track closer to Riga are from the end of 1980-s, when electrification of this line (from Riga to Sigulda) was started and even completed to the station Garkalne (previosly Ropaži). Sadly, when Soviet era was over, also electrification works were cancelled, and even the existing wires were dismantled. So, poles are not erected nowadays with a thought for future, they are simply the remains of past.

[@kirillvoloshin2065]

have been riding this one twice every two weeks for 5 years. 3,5h in one side :D

[@ArmandsR]

A little correction - Valmiera is actually one of the bigger cities (~8/9th of total of 81) not "smallest" in Latvia. It`s just that there are very few cities in Latvia that you'd consider big by Europe measures.

[@ricijs2000]

they work quite well, unlike the new trains they brought over and half of them froze and broke down in winter because of the cold lmao

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Yep, that often seems to be a problem with new trains

[@SwampWader]

Funny how you find out different aspects of the life in your own country from foreign traveler videos on youtube :) Great job! Thanx for sharing! Youve got a new subscriber! :)

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Thank you so much! 😁

[@w.d.gaster1142]

I suggest visiting salaspils, especially botanic garden, it's beautiful!

[@RaivoLaanemets]

Really hoping for Tartu to Riga direct route to open this year. I think it used to operate in soviet times but later was cancelled because of not enough cooperation between Latvian and Estonian governments. I live close to Tartu in Elva (also has a railway stop) and that would make travelling much easier.

[@beskarbeastbg]

6:38 its missing a part but you could pit your cup or bottle there

[@TheGvidzix]

As those seats are taken out of some busses, the groove in them if I remember correctly used to contain a cup holder, but I might be wrong.

[@PolskiMK]

These seats are just made to be on a bus, not a train lol. They're hella comfortable though. These grooves used to feature some cupholders. What's more, and rather unfortunate, these catenary poles you have mentioned while arriving to Riga aren't the new ones waiting to be used - as you can look up on Google Street View, this line had already been electrified, but Latvijas Dzelzceļš dismantled to the catenary for some reason.

[@blastersus2198]

Coming home from School and seeing an new Video from superalbs travel!

[@emanrov]

I believe that the seats come from long range busses. I have at least sat on very similar seats in coaches

[@josephkanowitz6875]

ב''ה, US long-distance buses and at least some MTA commuter buses have similar seats - shared inspiration if not the same supplier. That lateral slide feature is unique, probably impossible in USA for emergency egress reasons but looks comfortable.

[@emanrov]

@@josephkanowitz6875 I've seen that slide feature on European busses

[@trainasseen7838]

Oh beautiful train video

[@AverageLatvianDude]

You got an older DR1 train. For info - from Valmiera to Riga goes renovated train, based on DR1 I belive, and there is even more confort. But for what it is a good train to get you from A to B.

[@kaisaheikkila]

Don't know if anyone already said this. But the grooves in the tables used to contain ashtrays.

[@endreu1]

Hi, thx for vid. about those poles, we had already electrified them back in soviet times(3,3kv), but they remove it for some stupid reason.. they promises us to start electrify the Aizkraukle -Jēkabpils only from 2026 with new 25kv standart.. but i duno if they do so.. bc ViVi should had do it in until the end of 2023 year.

[@Yassified3425]

6:38 It used to be a cup holder, but people used it as a small trash bin... so they removed it a while ago.

[@davebeat]

Can confirm.

[@DaHitch]

6:15 These seats must have come from an old autocar/bus. They certainly look like them and I remember from many years ago some busses used to have this feature so you wouldn't be cramped against your neighbour.

[@JohannesNikitin91]

Have you tried Alūksne-Gulbene narrow-gauge train?? Thats maybe the best train you can take in summer weekends in Latvia. Old and nostalgic and its in everyday use as well.

[@edulitto1]

the groove in the front seats tray used to be a cup holder. but they are rarely there because they were so frigile they all were broken or stolen.

[@ianvee3266]

6:40 they used to be small openable compartments. not sure if they were meant for trash but most people used them for some small things they needed to throw away.

[@fToo]

@8:33 "no buffet car ... despite the journey length of nearly 3 hours". a few years ago I took a four hour train from Budapest to Subotica - and was rather shocked to find there was no place to buy food! was rather hungry by the time I reached Serbia!!

[@Drive_with_soma]

I visited valga when were travelling to Valmiera. Valga and Valka is actually same city. Just Valga is in Estonian side and Valka Latvian side of border.

[@balazsgyorgynyerges5009]

I think the groove under the seatback table was once an ashtray. I think it was removed because they banned smoking on trains (but I'm not sure about that)

[@delfininsjezus]

The grooves on the flimsy tables are for cupholder attachments but somebody has broken them all out. If you're lucky you can find a table with one still intact

[@whatever8282828]

Wow. Before you mentioned the price, I paused the video and made a wild guess to myself. I was way off! That is amazingly cheap for a pretty lengthy and "international" train ride!