OREANDA-NEWS. April 26, 2012. In completing a working visit to the Saldus Administrative District Latvian President Andris Berzins visited the rail tracks between Renge and Mazeiki to examine the technical condition of the tracks that are in Latvia and to discuss opportunities to restore tracks in Lithuania. After perusing the technologies at the Renge station, those who were present determined that they are still in appropriate working order.
 
When the President visited a dismantled section of tracks in Lithuania, he was accompanied by the chairman of the Liepaja City Council, Uldis Sesks. The chairman told the President that the railway has much potential and is of great importance in increasing cargo transit turnover in Liepaja. The President said that the use of the railroad would offer much broader opportunities for Latvia, Lithuania and the whole Baltic region to develop the transmit business and logistics sector while also enhancing their competitiveness. While meeting with businesspeople and local residents in Saldus, President Berzins argued that the economy of the European Union and the world is facing great changes, and so the Baltic States need to establish much closer economic co-operation not just among themselves, but also with other neighbouring countries. This idea was also expressed at a recent tripartite meeting of presidents in Warsaw.
 
On March 22, 2012, when meeting with Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite, President Berzins spoke about the importance of renewing rail traffic in the area. He called on Lithuania to restore the tracks between Mazeiki and Renge as quickly as possible, and the Lithuanian president confirmed that her country is prepared to do so.
 
The importance of the railroad has been emphasised on several occasions by high-ranking officials from both countries, and complaints have been submitted on more than a few occasions by people in Latvia’s transit industry. They have lost an opportunity to make use of an economically more advantageous transport route. Latvian Railways is also losing money, because Latvia must maintain the now pointless 70 km of rail tracks between Gluda and Renge. This passage cannot really be used for transit purposes, because again, the tracks in Lithuania have been dismantled. This means that cargo to Mazeiki has to be delivered via Siauliai and Viski.
 
Lithuania unilaterally decided to dismantle the tracks between Mazeiki and Renge on September 5, 2008. Latvian Railways only received a telegram to say that repairs were being done. Lithuania has made reference to a study that was supposed to be completed in 2010 and would serve as a foundation for decisions related to further rail connections with Latvia.