Estonia’s state-owned passenger rail operator Elron is planning to modernize trains running between Tartu and Riga while simultaneously seeking to rent them out to Latvians for local routes, according to Estonian public media ERR News, citing a letter sent to the Ministry of Climate. The state allocates Elron €2 million annually to operate the route with two departures per day in each direction, alongside an additional €300,000 allocated this year for preparatory costs. However, the initially planned second daily departure has not yet launched due to a shortage of trains.
Funding Allocation and Train Modernization Plans
Calculations from Elron indicate that this year’s funding will cover the operation of the route with one daily departure and the modernization of three trains. Citing passenger feedback, Elron stated that more comfortable trains would help increase passenger numbers on the Tartu-Riga route. This modernization also provides an opportunity to generate revenue by renting out the trains while they are in Latvia.
“All this should help better cover the costs of the Tartu-Riga route,” Elron CEO Lauri Betlem noted. Elron currently possesses three two-car trains and one three-car train authorized to operate on Latvia’s railway network.
Did You Know? The state allocates Elron €2 million annually to operate the Tartu-Riga route with two departures per day in both directions, plus an additional €300,000 allocated this year for preparatory costs.
Bidding on Latvian Regional Rail Procurement
The plan to rent out trains in Latvia connects directly to an ongoing procurement by Latvian passenger rail operator Vivi. Vivi wants to rent diesel trains for three distinct routes: the Lithuanian border–Daugavpils–Riga–Daugavpils–Lithuanian border, Riga–Valga–Riga, and Riga–Daugavpils–Riga. The procurement procedure remains ongoing.
Elron submitted a bid for the Riga-Daugavpils-Riga route. “We submitted a bid for the last route because the current direct Tallinn-Riga service arrives in Riga at around 9 p.m. and begins its return journey at 7.30 a.m. The time in between is free, during which it would make sense to put the train to work,” Elron’s head of customer experience Kristi Unt told ERR. Unt added that this arrangement could also expand connections for Estonian passengers to central and southeastern Latvia.
By bidding in Vivi’s ongoing procurement, Elron could generate revenue on the Tartu-Riga line while addressing rolling stock downtime between the evening arrival and morning departure of the Tallinn-Riga service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the second daily departure between Tartu and Riga not launched?
The initially planned second daily departure has not yet launched due to a shortage of trains.
How many trains are currently authorized to operate in Latvia?
Elron currently has three two-car trains and one three-car train authorized to operate on Latvia’s railway network.
Which specific route did Elron bid on in the Vivi procurement?
Elron submitted a bid for the Riga–Daugavpils–Riga route.
What impact could renting out these trains have on travel options between Estonia and southeastern Latvia?
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