09.09.2025
Estonia is moving one step closer to launching Rail Baltica traffic in 2030: in the last week of August, the government received an overview from Minister of Infrastructure Kuldar Leis of the plan to purchase up to five new passenger trains that will serve regional lines. The tender will be announced already this autumn, and the first new trains should arrive in Estonia at the end of 2029 and all trains should be present at the beginning of 2030.
“The main goal of Rail Baltica is to create a fast and modern connection from Tallinn to Warsaw and beyond, but the regional dimension of this project is also important,” said Leis. “Local trains allow people to move quickly and comfortably between their daily destinations. Fast and efficient public transport brings jobs and services located in large centers closer to home.”
The new trains, each with up to 200 seats, will have the technical capability to travel at speeds of up to 200 km/h. In addition, business class, toilets, internet access, comfortable seats, bicycle spaces and the possibility of catering are provided. Although the trains are intended primarily for domestic routes in Estonia, their technical equipment also allows them to travel to Riga.
The cost of the five trains is estimated at 60–75 million euros (excluding VAT). In addition to the trains, the equipment required for the maintenance depot will also be procured. The procurement is planned as a framework procurement, which would also allow Latvia and Lithuania to place an order in the same package – both countries have expressed interest in it.
There will be up to 11 departures per day on the Tallinn–Pärnu–Häädemeeste route and up to six trips per day on the Riga route. This would mean a service consolidation comparable to Elron's current Tallinn–Tartu route.
According to Minister Leis, the schedule is tight but realistic: manufacturers have confirmed that the completion of five trains by 2029–2030 is feasible.
The principles for organizing international high-speed train services are planned to be agreed upon between the Baltic states by 2025.
The story was first published as a content marketing story in Õhtuleht on August 29, 2025, 10:37
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