On 8th April 2009 in Liepāja railway station was opened a photo exhibition dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the railway line Liepāja-Glūda.
In exhibition there are displayed both historical, and contemporary pictures of railway line and people, who keep in existence this line.
This year Latvijas dzelzceļš celebrates the 90th anniversary of the foundation of national railway company. Within the framework of anniversary events LDz opened photo exhibitions dedicated to history of the lines in Jelgava, Valmiera and Liepāja. On 20th April 2009 historical photo exhibition will be opened in Daugavpils railway station.
Line Liepāja-Glūda is the first railway line constructed in the Republic of Latvia. After signing the convention between Latvia and Lithuania in 1921 trains from Jelgava to Liepāja ran through Lithuania (Mažeiķi), and Lithuania organized its trains from Mažeiķi to Klaipēda through Priekule. During the German occupation, 1917-1918, Jelgava-Liepāja railway line through Mažeiķi was transformed into European railway gauge (1435mm). In order to organize transit trains from the Soviet Union through Krustpils over the renewed Krustpils railway bridge across Daugava to Liepāja, it was necessary to have Russian gauge (1524mm). In that case it would be necessary to construct another track of different gauge along the existing track for transit traffic from Mažeiķi to Liepāja. However, it would not be useful if a new railway line was constructed. Therefore, on 18-19 July 1922 Constitutional Assembly made a decision following which the government has been ordered to start preparatory works for construction of the new railway line Rīga-Liepāja in the territory of Latvia.
Formal opening of the construction works took place on 8 August 1925. The first spade was pushed into the ground, and soil put in the wheelbarrow from the bed was carried away by Jānis ČAKSTE. Jānis PAUĻUKS, Minister of Transport, Andrejs RODE, Chief-Director of Railways, and others followed him.
Traffic in the line Liepāja – Glūda was opened gradually:
- Section Glūda-Dobele was opened on 15 August 1927;
- Section Dobele-Brocēni was opened on 8 October 1927;
- In section Brocēni-Saldus traffic was opened on 10 August 1928;
- In section Saldus-Skrunda traffic was opened on 5 December 1928;
- On 25 September 1929 whole line was opened for traffic.