Trip to Latvia and Lithuania - May 2012
General Notes
This trip was organised by PTG Tours, though I arranged the travel to and from Latvia myself.
Operating Company Abbreviations:
- GAb - Gulbene-Alūksne banitis (Gulbene-Alūksne Railway)
- LDz - Latvijas Dzelzceļš (Latvian Railways)
- LG - Lietuvos Geležinkeliai (Lithuanian Railways)
- LUL - London Underground
- RM - RATP Metrolink (operator of Greater Manchester Metrolink)
- SR - Southern Railway
- VT - Virgin Trains
| Place | Arrive | Depart | Train | Traction details & notes |
Saturday 5th May 2012
| Timperley | 06:03 | RM tram 1014 | ||
| Piccadilly | 06:29 | 06:55 | VT EMU 390003 | |
| London Euston | 09:04 | 09:17 | LUL Victoria Line | |
| London Victoria | 09:28 | 09:45 | SR EMU 442418 | |
| Gatwick Airport (LGW) | 10:18 | 13:10 | BT652 | Air Baltic YL-BBJ B737-300 |
| Rīga Airport (RIX) | 16:50 | bus to Hotel | ||
| Overnight at Tallink Hotel Rīga, 24 Elizabethes, Rīga LV-1050 (2 nights) | ||||
Sunday 6th May 2012
| Rīga | 08:30 | 978 | LDz DL TEP70-0204 (photo) | |
| Gulbene | 12:10 | 13:00 | 694 | GAb DL TU2-273 (750mm gauge) [including shunt from depot to station] (photo photo) |
| Alūksne (photo) | 14:25 | 15:25 | 693 | GAb DL TU2-273 (photo at Paparde) |
| Gulbene (photo) | 16:45 | 17:45 | 977 | LDz DL TEP70-0204 |
| Rīga | 21:48 | |||
| Overnight at Tallink Hotel Rīga, Rīga | ||||
Monday 7th May 2012
| Rīga | 08:20 | 978/977 | LDz DL M62-1198 | |
| via Skulte (run round, photo photo) - Lilaste - Jāņavārti (run round) - Rīga - Tukums-1 - Usma | ||||
| Ventspils | 16:55 | |||
| Park Railway "Mazbānītis" (full system tour) | 18:30 - 19:55 | SL MI-631 (600mm gauge) (photo) | ||
| Overnight at Hotel Dzintarjura, Ganību iela 26, Ventspils, LV-3601 | ||||
Tuesday 8th May 2012
| Ventspils | 09:00 | 978/977 | LDz DL M62-1198 (photo) | |
| via Spāre (photo) - Tukums-2 - Jelgava - Reņģe (run round, photo) - Glūda (run round) - Ilmaja | ||||
| Liepāja | 20:30 | |||
| Overnight at Liva Hotel, Lielā iela 11, Liepāja, LV-3401 | ||||
Wednesday 9th May 2012
| Liepāja (photo) | 09:00 | 978/977 | LDz DL M62-1198 | |
| via Jelgava - Iecava - Krustpils (photo) - curve from Km.387 - Daugavpils šķirotava (run round) - Km.533 - "southern" river bridge - Km.3 - Griva (run round, photo) - Km.5 - Svente - Ilūkste (run round) - Svente - Km.5 - Km.3 - "southern" river bridge - Km.533 | ||||
| Daugavpils | 22:15 | |||
| Overnight at Park Hotel Latgola, Gimnāzijas iela 46, Daugavpils, LV-5401 (2 nights) | ||||
| Notes The return journey from Svente to Daugavpils should have been via the "northern" river bridge, which sees no passenger services. The train was running quite late, and it was explained that the diversion via the "southern" bridge, which is the quicker route, was to save some time. We were booked to use the "northern" river bridge again on Friday. |
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Thursday 10th May 2012
| Daugavpils (photo photo photo) | 08:18 | 978/977 | LDz DL 2TE10U-0184 | |
| via Aglona (photo) - Rēzekne-1 - Rēzekne-2 - Zilupe (run round, photo photo) - Rēzekne-2 (photo) - Kārsava (run round, photo) - Rēzekne-1 (run round) - Krustpils (run round, photo) | ||||
| Daugavpils | 18:24 | followed by depot visit (photo photo photo photo photo) | ||
| Overnight at Park Hotel Latgola, Daugavpils | ||||
Friday 11th May 2012
| Daugavpils (photo photo) | 08:45 | 978/977 | LDz DL 2TE10M-3422 (photo) | |
| via Indra (run round, photo) | ||||
| * Daugavpils | 12:50 | 13:20 | LG DL TEP70-0335 (photo) | |
| via Km.533 - "southern" river bridge - Km.3 - Km.5 - Eglaine (photo) - Rokišķis (photo) - Subačius (photo) - Gustonys (photo) - Radviļiškis (photo photo photo photo) | ||||
| * Jelgava (photo) | 19:36 | 20:06 | LDz DL M62-1093 (photo) | |
| Rīga (photo) | 21:00 | |||
| Overnight at Tallink Hotel Rīga, 24 Elizabethes, Rīga LV-1050 | ||||
| Notes Again, we failed to do the "booked" route via the "northern" river bridge, this time reportedly due to "technical reasons". |
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Saturday 12th May 2012
| Tallink Hotel Rīga | 09:05 | Taxi to airport | ||
| Rīga Airport (RIX) | 09:25 | 11:35 | BT651 | Air Baltic YL-BBJ B7373-300 |
| Gatwick Airport (LGW) | 12:25 | 13:35 | SR EMU 442406 | |
| London Victoria | 14:05 | 14:15 | LUL Victoria Line | |
| London Euston | 14:25 | 15:00 | VT EMU 3900?? | |
| Manchester Piccadilly | 17:07 | 17:20 | RM tram ???? | |
| Timperley | 17:45 |
Summary
Another excellent railtour organised by PTG Tours - many thanks to Phil Wormald and Marion Matthews - except for one missed freight-only line.......