Analysis of EU Funded Investment Project for Latvian Railway Industry Development

Conclusions and Recommendations
In the present Master’s thesis, the author has conducted the study of the topic “Analysis of EU funded investment project for Latvian railway industry development”. The main findings of the study are presented below.
As concerns the RQ1 (How important are European cohesion funds in general and for Latvia?):
1. The Cohesion Fund (CF) is one of the European Structural and Investment Funds, which encourages investments in priority trans-European transport networks, as well as investments related to energy or transport, which are beneficial for the environment in terms of energy efficiency, use of renewable energy, transport development and intermodal transport support.
2. Currently, the means of the various European Union funds are used in various sectors, such as transport, environment, innovations, education, science, healthcare, etc. Thus, the EU investment funds are affecting the development of the Latvian economy.
3. At the present moment, the railway industry represented by the state joint stock company LDz is actively involved in attraction of investments of European funds for the implementation of various projects. The company already has a successful experience of completed projects, which include: updating of hot axle box detection system for rolling stock; track renewal of the East-West railway corridor sections; replacement of switches; Rezekne II reception yard.
As concerns the RQ2 (Why modernization of existing locomotive is more preferable against other investment alternatives?):
4. Shunting locomotives very important components of the railway yard of the company LDz. The basic models of diesel locomotives, which are used today, were developed and mastered in the production 40 -50 years ago.
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