In December 2023, the first meeting of the Rail Baltic Estonia youth community took place, with the aim of bringing together inspiring young people who support the international railway project and whose heartfelt desire is to contribute to the creation of a fast, comfortable, environmentally friendly, and safe transport connection with Europe.
All open-minded and motivated young people are welcome to join our youth community on Facebook in the group“RB NOORED.”
We organize various exciting meetings throughout the year, focusing on networking, learning about a specific field or topic, and jointly planning future activities.
RB youth today are:
visited the RBE office and learned about Rail Baltica's work, leaders, and activities;
Participated in TalTech's railway model building competition "Rööpameister" (Rail Master);
visited the construction site of the Riga terminal, learned about the activities of RB Rail AS, and familiarized themselves with the history of Latvian railways.
RB youth team's first meeting in December 2023. Photo: Kelly KoortRB youth in Riga, August 2025
In order to spread environmental awareness among young people and organize interesting railway-related activities, it is necessary to bring together like-minded people. This is precisely why the Rail Baltica youth community was created.
If you know someone in your circle of friends who could be part of the RB youth community, feel free to let them know about us!
RB youth in Riga, August 2025
RB youth in Riga, August 2025
From left: Hannes Hermaküla, Aaron Torm Peebo, Kristian Pärt, Rail Baltica Mobility Conference in May 2024
For Rail Baltic Estonia, involving young people in the railway project is important in several ways:
Young people are the shapers of the future, but also the future users of Rail Baltica;
Involving young people helps to ensure that the project meets the needs and expectations of future generations;
Young people bring innovative ideas and creative approaches to the project;
Involving young people ensures broader social support for the project and increases cohesion with communities;
Young people understand the impact of climate change and want to be part of the solution to environmental problems in order to ensure a more sustainable future.
Young people are interested in waste management and the circular economy and are coming up with innovative solutions.
Young people's love of travel and the environment increases their preference for trains and rail transport!
RBE environmental expert Tanika Ojasild (left) presenting an environmentally friendly railway project on Europe Day 2023. Photo: Kelly Koort.
Young people interested in Rail Baltica on Europe Day 2022. Photo: Kelly Koort
DiscoverEU grant – what, how, and who is eligible?
In 2018, the Erasmus+ program launched an exciting initiative called DiscoverEU, which gives 18-year-olds the opportunity to discover Europe by train.
To win a free travel pass, you must participate in a competition held twice a year, in spring and autumn, viathe European Youth Portal. A certain number of train travel passes are allocated to young people in each country, allowing them to travel in nearly 30 European countries participating in the program. All young people who are 18 years old at the time of application, are citizens of a European Union member state, and plan to travel for one day to one month are eligible to participate. You can go on your dream trip alone or take up to four friends with you.
In addition to the travel pass, young people also receive a discount card that can be used to pay for food, accommodation, local transport, culture, sports, and other expenses.
The free travel pass allows you to travel by train throughout Europe, learn about cultural heritage, experience new things, practice languages, and meet different people. You can go on your dream trip alone or take up to four friends with you.
Since 2022, Rail Baltic Estonia has also supported the DiscoverEU program, giving five young people a €500 travel grant each summer after the second round of applications to help them cover their accommodation, food, and other travel expenses.
NB! If you have received positive news about winning a DiscoverEU travel pass, keep an eye on your mailbox and Rail Baltic Estonia's social media accounts in May so that you can also apply for an RBE travel grant!
Rail Baltic Estonia DiscoverEU program scholarship recipients for 2022-2024. Photos: private collection.
Since 2018, travel passes have been distributed to nearly 165,000 young Europeans. See also: europa.eu/youth/discovereu_en.
Youth campaign “THE FUTURE IS ON THE TRAIN”
Rail Baltic Estonia and Millenzials, whose namesakes are Artjom Savitski and Kris Lüüs (stage name Krispoiss), carried out a youth campaign called "The Future is on the Train" in November 2024, with the aim of creating a vision among young people for the future of Rail Baltica. The goal of the campaign was to encourage young people to think about the future of transportation and infrastructure, offer them an opportunity to express their creativity and technological skills, and introduce Rail Baltica as a future-oriented, convenient, safe, and innovative infrastructure project.
It was permitted to visualize both the interior and exterior views of the train, use various design programs, and, among other things, utilize artificial intelligence. The work had to be submitted in photo format with a short description in which the author described their chosen design solution and explained how the train they had created meets the needs of future users and supports the identity of Rail Baltica.
A total of 41 entries were received, of which 36 reached the final vote in accordance with the rules. The entries were evaluated in three categories, and in addition to the jury, the audience also had a say.
The campaign was sponsored by Wasa Resort, which offered two spa packages for two as prizes for RBE and the audience's favorite. All winners will also receive a €150 shopping spree at Northern Europe's largest premium sneaker and streetwear store Ballzy.
