RIGA, Sept 15 (LETA) - The Road Transport Administration has warned that bus operators will bee penalized for a full or partial cancellation of passenger services during the protest the operators are planning to stage this Tuesday, the transport authority informed LETA.

The Road Transport Administration underlines that as the authority organizing the provision of regional public transport services in Latvia, it does not support the regional bus operators' protest, which must not harm the passengers who relay on public transport services.

The Road Transport Administration will therefore closely monitor the regional bus departures, scheduled for Tuesday, September 16.

According to the Road Transport Administration's information, some regional bus services could be fully or partially suspended during the protest, affecting public transport services in several parts of Latvia. The Road Transport Administration therefore urges passengers who have planned their trips during this period to choose alternative means of transport, such as trains, where possible.

Train services are not expected to be affected by the protest, and the Road Transport Administration informs.

At the same time, the Road Transport Administration has information that not all bus operators are planning to join the protest and that on the routes in Pieriga, Saldus, Kuldiga, Cesis and Sigulda operated by CATA and Latvijas Sabiedriskais Autobuss, bus services will not be affected.

On Tuesday, September 16, from 10 to 11 a.m., passenger carriers will hold a protest, "An hour without public transport", to draw attention to insufficient funding in the public transport sector, representatives of VTU Valmiera informed LETA.

Regional buses that will be on the road between 10 and 11 a.m. will stop at appropriate places safe for passengers. At 11 the buses will resume running, completing the delayed services. Some bus departures will be cancelled.

Buses that will have entered Riga during the protest will not stop and will continue to Riga International Coach Terminal.

The bus operators joining the protest include Daugavpils Autobusu Parks, Talsu Autotransports, Tukuma Auto, Rezeknes Autobusu Parks, VTU Valmiera, Norma-A, which provides passenger services under the Ecolines brand, Liepajas Autobusu Parks, Nordeka and Ventspils Reiss.

The aim of the stoppage is to defend the interests of citizens and draw decision-makers' attention to the underfunding of public transport.

The protest will involve passenger carriers providing public transport services on regional routes and have a long-term contract with the Road Transport Administration.

The bus companies demand 10 percent compensation for the losses they have incurred as a result of extraordinary circumstances under long-term contracts between July 1, 2022 and August 31, 2025.