Rail Baltica: Riga Central Station building reaches highest point

In February 2024, the BERERIX joint venture - involving BESIX, Rizzani de Eccher, and SIA RERE BŪVE –reached the highest point of the Rail Baltica Riga Central Station building after successfully installing the roof’s arch structure. For the occasion, a traditional topping out ceremony was held on February, 29th, during which a wreath was lifted to the top of the building.

Specially designed wreath

The installation of the Rail Baltica Riga Central Station building’s roof structure commenced in December 2023, when the first steel arch was placed. With the fourth arch being successfully installed on the south side of the station in February, the construction of the roof structure was completed. Three additional arches will follow on the north side of the project, where works have started as well. In total, the project includes seven arches.

For the occasion of having reached the highest point, a traditional topping out ceremony was held on Thursday, February 29th. During this event, representatives of the BERERIX joint venture and the client lifted a specially designed wreath to the top of the roof. During this, sound signals from the trains present at the station reverberated.

The Riga Central Station project is part of the larger Rail Baltica project, which aims to integrate the Baltic States into the European rail network. As a testament to this international significance and the project’s connection to Europe, the wreath was made up of plants and flowers from various European countries. Among others, it included Latvian pine, Estonian juniper, and Lithuanian spruce, as well as hops from Belgium, lavender from France, oak from Germany and olive tree from Italy.

Largest passenger terminal in the Baltics

The joint venture BERERIX is responsible for the design and construction of the Rail Baltica Central Station project. Central part is the Central Station building, which will become the largest passenger terminal in the Baltics. During the design phase, special attention was paid to energy-efficient technologies, sustainable solutions, and passenger comfort and safety. The station will have a total of eight platforms and 14 tracks, as well as waiting areas of about 6.500 m² with ticket offices, information boards and various services spread over three floors.

In addition to the central station building, the project includes the construction of a railway bridge over the Daugava River, the installation of new rails and a new catenary system over a 2.5-kilometre distance within Riga.

The Rail Baltica Riga Central Station Project was awarded to the BERERIX joint venture by Eiropas Dzelzceļa līnijas (EDzL), the executive agency of the Latvian Ministry of Transport for the implementation of the Rail Baltica project in Latvia. The project is funded within the range of 81–85% by the European Union via the Connecting Europe Facility, with the remaining portion covered by the Republic of Latvia.