To promote interest in relaxing in nature and to remind people of the many benefits of forests on a daily basis, Vivi, in partnership with AS “Latvijas valsts meži” (LVM, Latvian State Forests), is launching an initiative to name all 32 electric trains. Today, the first four names were announced – bite (bee), apodziņš (Eurasian pygmy owl), priede (pine), egle (spruce) – and a map was presented showing the recreational areas of AS “Latvijas valsts meži” that are easily accessible by train. Every month, names will be given to four more trains.
Atis Švinka, Minister of Transport: “This initiative is an excellent example of cooperation among state-owned companies and serves as a reminder of something essential – we already have everything we need for high-quality, healthy, and eco-friendly recreation. State forests, recreational areas, trails, lakes, and the convenience of getting there by electric train – all of this is already here, in our Latvia. I invite you to take the train this weekend and head to the country’s forests – to get closer to nature, peace, and yourself.”
“Naming trains is a common practice both in Europe and around the world, but approaches vary. We wanted the names of Vivi trains to encourage passengers in their daily lives to appreciate and protect nature – both by choosing eco-friendly transportation, such as electric trains, and by spending time in nature. A public survey conducted in March shows that currently only one-third of residents use trains to get out into nature, which is why we launched this initiative in collaboration with “Latvijas valsts meži”. We already transport 21 million passengers annually and maintain a punctuality rate of 98.4%, which is one of the highest in Europe. Our goal is to make the train the natural choice not only for everyday travel but also for holidays. On the same train – closer to nature. Bee (bite), on the other hand, is a name our passengers had already given to the yellow electric trains,” says Raitis Nešpors, Chairman of the Board of Vivi.
The names for the trains were chosen by experts from AS “Latvijas valsts meži”, who selected names of trees, birds, animals, and natural resources characteristic of Latvia that reflect the diversity and richness of our natural environment. This is also reflected by the first four names of the trains.
Bees (bite) are among the most important pollinators in nature – in meadows, fields, gardens, and forests. Eurasian pygmy owl (apodziņš) has been announced as Latvia’s Bird of the Year 2026. It is the smallest species of owl in Latvia and one of the smallest owls in Europe. The pine (priede) is the second most common tree species in Latvia; it is widely used both in the timber industry and in forest regeneration. Young pine stands, with their saplings growing rapidly, absorb carbon intensively, thereby mitigating climate change. Spruce trees (egle), on the other hand, are able to withstand and adapt to the heavy weight of snow and grow in relatively cool climates, which has historically made them a valuable resource not only in Latvia but also in many northern countries.
“In the 26 years since the founding of AS “Latvijas valsts meži”, the company has established and maintains more than 300 free recreational sites in state forests – nature trails, bike routes, observation towers, and well-maintained rest areas. In partnership with Vivi, we want to inspire people to embark on new adventures in nature and encourage them to take advantage of this opportunity – recreation in Latvia’s forests is unique and easily accessible to everyone, compared to other countries. In addition, many destinations can also be easily reached by train. We have compiled a list of the state forest recreation areas closest to electric train stations in a special guide to recreation areas, which will be useful when planning bike rides as well as longer and shorter hikes,” explains Ieva Sīpola, director of “LVM Rekreācija un vide”.
As previously reported, the electric trains were purchased as part of three projects, including the final one – “Purchase of Electric Trains, Spare Parts, and Bicycle Racks”. The aim is to develop a zero-emission rail infrastructure, thereby establishing competitive rail passenger transport within the overall public transport system. The projects are funded by the European Union.
* The survey was conducted in March 2026 by the research firm “Berg Research”, which carried out a statistically representative online survey of Latvian residents, securing a sample of N805 respondents aged 18 to 74.