8 bids received in tender for the supply of new buses
The submission period has concluded for the tender announced by “Rīgas satiksme” for the purchase of 120 new 18-metre buses, with bids received from eight tenderers. “Rīgas satiksme” will evaluate the submitted bids based on several criteria, including price, electricity or fuel consumption, warranty periods, and the exhaust emission performance of diesel buses. This will make it possible to select the most economically advantageous solution, taking into account not only the purchase price of the buses but also their long-term operating costs. The delivery of the new buses is expected to take place by 2029, and “Rīgas satiksme” will have the right, within 32 months of signing the contract, to place additional orders for between 30 and 90 electric buses.
At present, the “Rīgas satiksme” bus fleet comprises more than 400 buses, a large proportion of which have exceeded their intended 12-year service life, with some vehicles having been in operation for 20 years or more. This significantly increases maintenance costs and reduces vehicle operating efficiency. The technical specifications for the tender have been developed taking into account the needs of passengers and vehicle drivers, long-term operating costs, as well as the city’s development objectives, one of the priorities of which is zero-emission public transport. The tender provides for the purchase of 60 zero-emission electric buses and 60 diesel buses.
“Diesel buses continue to play an important role in the city’s public transport system, including for civil protection and security purposes. In crisis situations or in the event of disruptions to the electricity supply, diesel fuel provides a reliable alternative that makes it possible to maintain the continuity of public transport services in the city. The 60 diesel buses included in the tender will comply with the latest Euro 6 emission requirements and will gradually replace the oldest Euro 2 and Euro 3 engine models currently in operation,” says Jānis Golubevs, Member of the Board of “Rīgas satiksme”.
The new buses will incorporate a number of solutions aimed at improving passenger comfort and vehicle usability. New door-opening solutions will be introduced, and the seating layout will be redesigned to provide more open space in the passenger compartment, along with new seat upholstery materials. The interiors will feature heat pump technology for both heating and climate control, thereby improving passenger comfort in a range of weather conditions. Significant improvements are also planned for drivers’ working conditions. The buses will have fully separated and enclosed driver cabins, while conventional exterior mirrors will be replaced by cameras, providing better visibility and assisting drivers in operating the vehicles in challenging weather conditions. Unlike previous bus procurement processes, on-board information systems will be purchased separately, ensuring a unified system across the entire “Rīgas satiksme” bus fleet. The vehicles will be equipped with online diagnostic capabilities and will comply with high cybersecurity standards. In addition, “Rīgas satiksme” repair workshops are to be authorised to carry out warranty repairs, enabling vehicle maintenance and repairs to be organised more efficiently.
“Rīgas satiksme” thanks all tenderers for submitting their bids.
Further information about the services offered by “Rīgas satiksme”, route timetables, ticket types and other news is available on the website www.rigassatiksme.lv and on the social media platforms X, Facebook and Threads.
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