MINIMUM ACCESS PACKAGE

JSC "LatRailNet" is responsible for setting charges for the minimum access package and for access to infrastructure connecting service facilities. Charges shall be set at the cost that is directly incurred as a result of operating the train service. To prevent discrimination, JSC "LatRailNet" ensures that any given infrastructure manager's average and marginal charges for equivalent use of its infrastructure are comparable and that comparable services in the same market segment are subject to the same charges.

JSC "LatRailNet" takes decision about calculated charges and provides relevant information to the State Railway Administration.

JSC "LatRailNet" ensures that the charges actually applied comply with the rules laid down in the network statement. JSC "LatRailNet" publishes all infrastructure charging related decisions in its official website and indicates the date of the decision.

Charges for the minimum access package and for access to infrastructure connecting service facilities are collected by infrastructure manager according to collection schemes developed and adopted by JSC "LatRailNet". Charges for the use of railway infrastructure are paid to the infrastructure manager and used to fund its business.

CONGESTION CHARGES

The infrastructure charges may include a charge which reflects the scarcity of capacity of the identifiable section of the infrastructure during periods of congestion. JSC "LatRailNet" ceases to levy these charges in cases where capacity-enhancement plan is not produced or progress with the actions identified in the capacity enhancement plan is not identifiable. If the capacity-enhancement plan cannot be realised for reasons beyond its control or the options available are not economically or financially viable, JSC "LatRailNet" with the approval of the State Railway Administration continues to levy the charges that reflect the scarcity of capacity of the identifiable sections of the infrastructure during periods of congestion.

RESERVATION CHARGES

JSC "LatRailNet" takes decision to calculate appropriate charge for capacity that is allocated but not used. That non-usage charge shall provide incentives for efficient use of capacity. The levy of such a charge on applicants that were allocated a train path is mandatory in the event of their regular failure to use allocated paths or part of them. JSC "LatRailNet" provides infrastructure manager with information identifying criteria that determine such failure of using capacity. Infrastructure manager publishes the criteria of the failure of using capacity in its network statement. Execution of such criteria is controlled by the State Railway Administration. Payments for this charge shall be made by either the applicant or the railway undertaking selected by the applicant. AS "LatRailNet" on request informs any interested party of the infrastructure capacity which has already been allocated to railway undertakings that already use the capacity.

MAINTENANCE CHARGES

JSC "LatRailNet" takes decision on charges for the capacity used on purpose of infrastructure maintenance. Such charges do not exceed the revenue loss to the infrastructure manager caused by the maintenance.

ENVIRONMENTAL CHARGES

The infrastructure charges for the minimum access package and for access to infrastructure connecting service facilities may be modified to take account of the cost of environmental effects caused by the operation of the train. Any such modification shall be differentiated according to the magnitude of the effect caused. Charging of environmental costs which results in an increase in the overall revenue accruing to the infrastructure manager shall however be allowed only if such charging is applied to road freight transport in accordance with Road usage fees law. If charging for environmental costs generates additional revenue, infrastructure manager uses this revenue for the implementation of environmental protection activities accordingly with railway environment protection policy. Charges for the environmental effects caused by the operation of the train are not applied to vehicles operated or intended to be operated from and to third countries running on a 1520mm track gauge network.

Images:
"Train 2" by Ricardo Liberato (CC BY 2.0)
"ER2T 7113 05R at Dubulti" by Sludge G (CC BY 2.0)
"_MG_0400" by Liepāja (CC BY 2.0)