The Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian passenger train operators are called Elron, Vivi and LTG Link respectively. They’re about to start harmonisation of their timetables to create better opportunities for passengers to travel among the Baltic countries by train. There will be a new two-transfer connection from Tallinn to Tartu, Riga and then Vilnius, and it will be launched on January 6.
“I am pleased that we have found a solution with colleagues in Latvia and Lithuania in ensuring better and smoother transfrontier train connections in the near future,” says Estonia’s minister for regional affairs and agriculture, Piret Hartman. “The harmonisation of the timetables of passenger train operators in the three countries will be particularly important for southern Estonia, where among other things, marginalisation will be reduced, local entrepreneurship will be empowered, and unity among the Baltic States will be strengthened.”
Elron CEO Lauri Betlem points out that the Baltic States already have strong historical and economic links, and so a passenger train connection along the existing infrastructure must also be significantly improved in comparison to the current situation.
“Basically it’s possible now to travel in the three countries by train, but that has been more of a theoretical possibility,” says Betlem. “The timetables that will come into effect at the beginning of the year will mean more convenient transfers. We are also continuing work on a direct link between Tartu and Riga, but a faster solution in the meantime is this agreement with our colleagues in Latvia and Lithuania on harmonising our timetables.”
A daily passenger train link between Vilnius and Riga has been operating since late 2023, and the board chair of Lithuania’s passenger train operator LTG Link, Kristina Meide, says that this has proven itself very well.
“International routes from Vilnius to Riga and Warsaw are important for our passengers,” Meide says. “We hope that the new connection to Tallinn and the university town of Tartu will better satisfy the needs of our passengers. It is important for us to have goals and visions in common about offering people in the three countries more sustainable and convenient transportation options than the ones that were available in the past.”
The board chairman of Vivi in Latvia, Raitis Nespors, argues that the three passenger train operators in the Baltic States are linked by the clear goal of improving connections among the countries.
“This close co-operation means that at the beginning of next year, we’ll be able to offer connections between Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn,” he says. “As of December 15, we’ll be adjusting the departure time of our diesel train along the Riga-Valga route in accordance to the arrival times of the Lithuanian diesel train from Vilnius to Riga. On January 6, Elron will offer an additional diesel train for passengers from Valga to Tartu and then on to Tallinn. This timetable has also been adjusted.”
The two-transfer Tallinn-Tartu-Riga-Vilnius connection will initially mean that passengers will have to purchase separate tickets for each leg of the ride on the operator’s Website or aboard the train. Work has begun, however, on establishing a common ticketing solution for the route.
A test run of the Lithuanian LTG Link diesel train PESA 730 ML from Riga to Valga was due to occur on Monday, December 9.
Betlem says that preparations are ongoing for a separate passenger train link between Tartu and Riga. The aim is to open it in 2025.
Source: BNS
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