RAILROAD CONDITIONS AND OPERATIONS IN THE LATVIAN SSR
Document Type:
Collection:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
CIA-RDP80S01540R001000140002-9
Release Decision:
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
File:
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Body:
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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
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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)
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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.
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latigata
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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
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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.
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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.
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Comment. To the ordinary Latvian, the term "Cheka" denotes the security
organs, irrespective of whether they are KGB or XVD.
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