PV calls for an exception in the draft law on the exclusion of goods and services originating in Russia and Belarus from procurement

AS “Pasažieru vilciens” (PV) calls for an exception in the draft law on the exclusion of goods and services originating in Russia and Belarus from procurement, because the old electric and diesel trains used by PV were designed and built during the former Soviet Union, so it is not possible to replace a large number of spare parts with European Union ones (EU) manufactured spare parts.

Currently, the Budget and Finance (Tax) Committee of the Saeima is considering amendments to the Law on Procurement of Public Service Providers, which stipulates that the customer, when preparing the purchase, requires the applicant to ensure that goods and services originating in Russia and Belarus are not included in the execution of the order.

PV states in its letter to the commission that it understands the purpose of the draft law, but draws attention to the fact that both the operation of PV and ensuring the continuity of public transport services on railway routes of regional significance will be significantly affected by the norm contained in the draft law.

Currently, diesel trains, electric trains, “Škoda 16Ev” low-floor electric trains and shunting diesel locomotives are used to provide public transport services.

According to PV, for the rolling stock owned and operated by the company, within the framework of the technical regulations and technical projects of the manufacturing plant, a technical solution and mutual compatibility of spare parts have been determined for carrying out repairs. Also, PV must comply with the rules of operation and repair in accordance with the instructions set by the manufacturing plant.

In order to ensure the safety requirements of vehicle operation, it is impossible to make constructive changes in the design of the wagons, because the old electric trains and diesel trains were designed and built in the space and time of the former Soviet Union, a large part of the spare parts were produced in Russian and Belarusian companies.

According to the company, PV is constantly looking for alternative solutions, but it is impossible to replace many spare parts with spare parts produced in the EU, because they do not meet the technical specifications and production projects of spare parts for old trains, which makes it impossible to buy alternative spare parts produced in EU countries.

PV emphasizes that when choosing spare parts or rolling stock equipment to be used, it is not possible to consider an alternative solution also due to the requirements of the public railway infrastructure to be used – the company is forced to use the Russian-made communication block “Blok” in the train movement safety system.

Establishing an exception in the draft law, the company states that it would allow PV to purchase goods originating in Russia and Belarus, which are necessary for the maintenance and/or repair of vehicles used to provide public transport services, in cases where it is not possible to purchase an alternative product produced in EU countries.

“Unless there is a reasonable exception, PV will be able to operate the rolling stock it owns and operates only until it has a balance of spare parts at its disposal, which in some cases will be used up already in the spring of this year. Consequently, PV will be forced to reduce the number of rolling stock used in providing the service , reaching the situation that it will not have available rolling stock to ensure safe and continuous public transport services,” the company says in the letter.