The Haapsalu railway restoration support group says that negotiations for EU funding are currently underway. Estonia needs to clarify its priorities. The Rohuküla railway should be one of Estonia's strategic projects.
EU funding goes to sustainable mobility, regional connectivity, and environmentally friendly transport. The Rohuküla railway fits these goals. The state budget should have sufficient funds for this project.
The support group wants the Rohuküla railway to be treated as a nationally important project. They want ministries to collaborate and start purchasing land as early as 2026.
The Rohuküla railway would connect Tallinn, Läänemaa, and Hiiumaa. People could commute to work, school, and services without a car. This would also help employees and customers of businesses.
The railway would also support tourism. It would make tourism more stable and year-round. The railway would give families and young people a sense of security to live in their home region.
Different parts of the project are at different stages. Eesti Raudtee has completed the project and issued construction permits. There is a risk that permits could expire on the Ellamaa-Risti section. Therefore, work should start there quickly.
Construction permits exist for the Risti-Rohuküla section, but additional preparations are needed. Land must be purchased from private and municipal owners.
Without proper preparation, the project cannot move to the construction phase. Train traffic began on the Riisipere-Turba railway section in 2019. Six years later, there were nearly 120,000 train trips at Turba station.
The number of passengers in Turba has grown faster than elsewhere in Estonia. This shows that the railway has transformed a small town into a higher-quality place to live.
The Haapsalu railway support group was established in 2014. Currently, it includes many politicians from both the opposition and the coalition.
The Ministry of Climate is currently collecting proposals for the new funding period. Specific projects and land purchases will be discussed after the state plan is confirmed at the beginning of 2027.