Russia Raises Railway Tariffs to Latvia, Estonia and Finland

Russia will apply a coefficient of 2 to railway freight tariffs for cargo moving to Latvia, Estonia and Finland from June 1. The change covers land border crossings and applies to all types of cargo, with Belarus-linked shipments to Latvia and Estonia also drawn into the higher rate.

June 1 Tariff Change

The order, No. 306/26, was published on Monday on the official legal acts placement portal. For trains not owned by Russian Railways, the coefficient will apply to each wagon and to locomotives, including diesel and electric locomotives.

The same coefficient will also affect tariffs for using the infrastructure of Russian Railways and for promoting freight trains. The exception covers transport directed to the stations of the Kaliningrad Railway and Lithuania.

Latvia Freight Decline

Latvia's railway has been struggling for several years after losing a significant amount of cargo from Russia and Belarus due to international sanctions. The Ministry of Transport said freight transport in Latvia decreased by 17.9% in the first four months of this year compared with the same period in 2025, reaching 2.469 million tons.

Domestic transport in Latvia fell by 7.3% in the first four months of this year. International transport dropped by 20.3%, and transit cargo declined by 14.7%.

For shippers moving freight toward the Baltic states, the immediate change is the higher cost structure beginning June 1. The only rail traffic left outside the new coefficient in the facts provided is cargo headed for Kaliningrad Railway stations and Lithuania.