Before Tartu became the European Capital of Culture in 2024, many Tartu residents dreamed of a direct train connection to Riga. The Capital of Culture year brought new hope for launching the Tartu-Riga express train. However, this train has not yet begun operating.
Currently, test runs with Estonian trains have been conducted between Valga and Riga. The train types are in the European Railway Agency's authorization process. This process checks whether the Estonian train is suitable for operation on Latvian railways and whether it is safe.
Elron board member Märt Ehrenpreis said that no significant deficiencies have been found that would prevent the line from being launched. The plan is to start the Tartu-Riga express line before the end of the year. This summer, the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture allocated 450,000 euros for salary increases for locomotive drivers and train technicians. This funding has not delayed the launch of the line.
Ehrenpreis mentioned that the European process was slow during the summer due to holidays. Today, the funds necessary to open the line are available. The initial line connection is planned as an extension of the Valga train. The train would depart early in the morning from Riga to Tartu and return in the evening. There are four intermediate stops along the route.
Last week, Elron announced a tender for purchasing satellite communication devices for Wi-Fi. During test runs, it was found that there are areas along the route where stable mobile communication is lacking. Therefore, it is planned to equip the trains with Starlink antennas.
Elron hopes to install the devices on the trains by the end of this year and the beginning of next year. The ticket price for the Tartu-Riga train line is not yet known. The number of passengers has increased, and interest in the line is high. Elron's board member believes that the line's popularity will continue to grow.