
The Belarusian Railways’ order to make the train was fulfilled by Riga Carriage Plant. One of the reasons behind the decision was the fact that since the Soviet times almost one hundred Latvian diesel trains have been used in Belarus, with corresponding repairing methods already mastered.
Indeed, in their time Latvia built cars for the entire Soviet Union while logo RVR was known in the entire breadth of the country — from the Sea of Okhotsk to the Baltic Sea. However, in the 1990s the company became more specialised in repairs. According to the company representatives, the diesel train made for Belarus was the first one made since the USSR collapse. Company representative Anatoliy Sazanovich, who escorted the train, said, to fulfil the order, the company had to enlarge the personnel by 10%.
The train now owned by Gomel railwaymen is expected to be the first one in the number of future similar trains Belarus will buy. Within the next few days representatives of the Belarusian Railways are likely to go to Riga to commission another such train, which is not likely to be the last one…
Andrei Novikov