RAILROAD CONDITIONS AND OPERATIONS IN THE LATVIAN SSR

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Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP80S01540R001000140002-9
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RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
5
Document Creation Date: 
December 23, 2016
Document Release Date: 
January 31, 2013
Sequence Number: 
2
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
August 28, 1953
Content Type: 
REPORT
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PDF icon CIA-RDP80S01540R001000140002-9.pdf259.98 KB
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50X1-HUM L I Declassified in Part- Sanitized CopyApprovedforRelease2013/01/31 : CIA-RDP80501540R001000140002-9 ELLQFAX 16 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY INFORMATION REPORT This Document contains information affecting the Na- tional Defame of the United States, within the mean- ing of Title 13, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Oode, as amended. Its transmission or revelation of its mote*, to or receipt by an unauthorised person is prohibited by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited. 1 SZORZT/COITROL US,1 OPTIC ILLS ONLY SECURITY INFORMATION 50X1-HUM COUNTRY USSR (Latvian SSR) SUBJECT Railroad Conditions and Operations in the Latvian SSR REPORT DATE DISTR. NO. OF PAGES 28. August 1953 . DATE OF INFO, PLACE ACQUIRED REQUIREMENT NO. ? RtI REFERENCES iip. we wow THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE. THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE. (FOR KEY SEE REVERSE) 50X1-HUM Ral1roiL4 Lies 1. All the important railroad lines and centers were rebuilt immediately after the war, but lines of secondary importanc!4 h=70 been reconstructed only during the last few years. For example, the Riga - Argil line was restored only last yea50X1-HUM (1951). The Big---Rujiena line has as yet been restored only as far as 50X1-HUM Saulkrasti. In the latter case the main obstacle is believed to be the destroyed bridge across the river Salaca. The narrow-gauge lines from. Valk& to Rujiena and Ape have not yet been repaired. All other railroad lines. are the same as in 1940. No new lines have been built. Stations 2. Many railroad station buildings in Vidzeme and Latgale were destroyed by the Germans. New stations have been built in Daugavpils, Yelgava,-Sigulda, Oesis, Valmiera, and Resekne. Most of the other stations are housed, for the time being, in auxiliary buildings. . 3. 50X1-HUM latigata 50X1-HUM All railroad bridges in Vidseme and Latgale were destroyed during the war. Major. railroad bridges have been built across the rivers 01:7;;:unt, Amata, Resekne, Gauja near Carnikava, Daugaveilear Daugavpils, Lislup Yelgava and the Strand, ? Milgravis in North Miga, and the double-track bri is the river Daugava 50X1-HUM Riga. 50X1-HUM 2zattia 4. Trains from Riga go to all Latvian railroad terminals, except Rujiona. Local trains from Riga run several times daily to Stende,yalmiera, Saulkrasti, and . Lrustpils. The pride of the Soviet authorities is the new electric line from ONOUT/OONTROL - US 077ICIALS OILY . 50X1-HUM STATE 1 ARMY I x. INAVY I ?;, I AIR I x FBI I 'MC I 1f,IXI t ? (Nobs Wookloglea DINrIbvIlem leiNNANI Sy "X", NAM DIeldbullse Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/31 : CIA-RDP80501540R001000140002-9 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/31 : CIA-RDP80501540R001000140002-9 STAT Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/31 : CIA-RDP80501540R001000140002-9 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/31 : CIA-RDP80501540R001000140002-9 11 ILflVI ? SPORMT/OONTROL - US OITIOIALB OILY 50X1-HUM Riga to Nemeri, which was completed in 1951. Plectric trains built by the Riga Railroad Car Pactory are used on this line. The line is double-tracked as far as Dubulti, and the train takes 32 - 34 minutes, stopping at every 50X1-HUM station on the way, but from there to Xemeri it takes Approximately one hour. It is undeniable that the electric train to the Strand is a great improve:lent, and Latvians can only be glad that one day the Soviets will leave them such a capital development. 5. Passenger traffic to Tallinn and Lvov is by comfortable diesel train. On other lines, the coaches have BOOR better days. On short-distance trains there are no soft seats, but on long distance-trains soft seats are available, though expensive and difficult to obtain. The travelling qpeed of passenger trains is comparatively slow, and the journey from Riga to Lepaya, Daugavpils, or Rozekne takes some 6 7 hours, doubtless due to the shortness of the rail sectors and the frequent stops. 6. Tickets for all railroad lines in Latvia can be obtained easily, the only ex, ception being Lepaya, in which case the applicant's passport must be produced, or a permit to show that entry into Lepaya is permitted, before the ticket can be obtained. During the summer months, tickets for Moscow, Leningradtand Orin are difficult to obtain and must be ordered several days in advance. Tickets for local trains from Riga are comparatively cheap, costing: to Riga Strand 2-3 rubles, Sigulda 5 rubles, Orge 4 rubles, Oasis 10 rubles, andYelgava 4 rubles. The journey from Riga to Ventzpils costs 30 rubles. and to Daugavpils or Lepaya 35 rubles. 7. Heavy freight traffic on the Riga railroad system has been considerably ex, tended. The Riga and Oiekurkalns-Zemitans freight stations have been greatly enlarged, especially the latter, since this is close to the industrial center of Riga. The railroad yards at Skirotava in Riga have been enlarged, and new depots had workshops have been built. This is also the depot for cars for the Riga passenger station. 8. Between 1 January 1952 and 1 Augast 1952, the Latvian railroads moved 3,400 heavy trains, a total weight of approximately 3,800,000 tons. Dispatchers and shunteri ambled. 23,000 sets of rolling-stock, most of which had Riga as terminus. 9. The second largest railroad junction is Daugavpils, which has lately been offi- cially awarded big premiums and the title of "the best railway station in the Latvian Republic". This is probably because the much-publicized Soviet "wizard" Baranovska, who proposed that financial plaza should be worked out for every locomotive brigade, is employed there. The brigades, in turn, were enabled to save a few rubles in order to lower prices and. make more propaganda. This craze for economy has swept the railroads exactly as it has industry. Besides Baranovska methods, the "500 movement" is also in use. This means that a locomotive Should accomplish 500 kms in 24 hours. and increase its load. To further the drive for economy, a mixture of coal and oil shale is now used as fuel for locomotives. Unfortunately, no figures are available for the total number of locomotives or other rolling stock. It is only known that 15 depots have boon restored by the railroad authorities since the war, and, with the possible exception of passenger coaches, the whole system is much larger than in 1940. 10. According to estimates, the number of passengers carried reaches 25,000,000 a year. Bach passenger car now has its own conductor, most of whom are women. Since the Latvian railroad administration is now directly subordinate to Moscow, there are many Soviets in the administration; butpas a whole, the former Latvian railroad employees are still in their old positions. SZORMT/OONTROL - US OFFICIALS ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/31 : CIA-RDP80501540R001000140002-9 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/31 : CIA-RDP80501540R001000140002-9 50X1-HUM SNOUT/CONTROL - US OPTICIALS ONLY -3- Pailroad Personnel 11. New personnel is trained in the technical schools in Riga and Daugavpils. Amongst them are many members of the Komsomol. The so-called "Komsomol brigades" are very popular on the railroads. The schools prepare experts on locomotive economy, train movements, and loading. Railroadmen have the possi- bility of earning 1,000 rubles and more per month; especially well paid are locomotive crews (who do not receive accident bonuses), loaders, and unloaders. Stationmasters, guards, dispatchers, and other administrative personnel are also quite well paid, but conductors, spotters, and crossing guards are badly paid. As elsewhere in the Soviet Union, the railroadmen are encouraged by the award of decorations. In the years since the war, Latvian railroadmen have received 600 orders and some 3,500 medals. They also received free travel tickets to sanatoriums within the Soviet Union. There are many sanatoriums and camps for children in Riga Strand, but Latvian railroadmen see little of these, while many Soviets stay there. 12. The Latvian railroad has a special political section which represents the Party and produces the inevitable Communist propaganda. This section issues its, own newspaper which, by praising the workers on the railroad, tries to stimulate work and to introduce new working methods. So far, the Latvian railroadmen, with their old working methods, are accounted the best in the Soviet Union. 13. The Latvian railroad has a complete army system, with uniforms and ranks. Railroad bridges are guarded by Choke troops, and it is only recently that it has been permitted to open carriage windows when crossing a bridge.1 14. According to Latvian railroadmen, the railroads are Managed in a more or less orderly manner, with few accidents. and lively traffic. An adequate stimulus is to be found in the railroad "book of punishments", which brings an offender up before a tribunal for carelessness or the slightest infringement of disci, plias. The penalties are severe, and sometimes stern in the extreme. Railroad. Works and rectories 15. One of the largest railroad undertakings is the Dangavpils.Locomotive and Car Repair Works, which emplopapproximately 2,000 workers. This formerly constantly-praised factory has recently fallen into disfavor for not fulfilling its plan. Riga railroadmen too, are incurring reproaches for faulty work, dis- regard of discipline, lack of ,cire, and frequent drunkenness. 16. The next largest is the Riga Mechanical Repair Works, which is directly sub- ordinate to Moscow. In addition to. running repairs, this factory also produces turret-shaped structures for railroad stations. These constructions are also sent to other Soviet Republics, including Siberia. This year (1952) the factor,' started to produce machinery for mechanical tracklaying, according to the design,. of a Soviet engineer. Railroad Projects 17. A decree was recently issued in Mescal:, directing the complete reconstruction of the Baltic railroads. Details of the project are not known, but it is believed to envisage the reconstruction of the two Riga passenger stations, making the main tracks into double-track lines, and possibly also the con- struction of new lines from Thkuas to Nhldiga, and from Lepers to Ventspils. That this has been planned in the Soviet Union, however, does not guarantee that it will be fulfilled, and it is felt that this is a problem of the distant future. 50X1-HUM Comment. To the ordinary Latvian, the term "Cheka" denotes the security organs, irrespective of whether they are KGB or XVD. SBCPBT/CONTROL - US OFFICIALS ONLY Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/31 : CIA-RDP80501540R001000140002-9 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/31 : CIA-RDP80501540R001000140002-9 R Next 42 Page(s) In Document Denied Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/31 : CIA-RDP80501540R001000140002-9 50X1 -HUM