Estonia to buy up to 5 new passenger trains for Rail Baltic

TALLINN - Estonia is about to procure up to five brand new passenger trains, which will primarily operate domestic train services on the Rail Baltic track.

The estimated total cost for the five units is in the range of 60-75 million euros, excluding VAT. In addition to the trains, the necessary maintenance equipment for the depot will be obtained, spokespeople for the Ministry of Climate said.

Although the trains are intended primarily for serving domestic lines within Estonia, their technical capability will allow them to travel to more distant destinations, including Riga. There will be a total of 12 local stops between Tallinn and Häädemeeste, a small town near the Estonian-Latvian border.

Each new train must be able to accommodate up to 200 passengers and travel at a speed of up to 200 kilometers per hour. Each trains will have a business class area, toilets, internet connectivity, comfortable seats, bicycle spaces, and the option for catering services.

"The main goal of Rail Baltic is to establish a fast and modern connection from Tallinn to Warsaw and beyond, but the regional dimension of this project is equally important. Local trains will allow people to travel quickly and comfortably between their everyday destinations, bringing jobs and services located in major urban centers closer to their homes," Minister of Infrastructure Kuldar Leis said.

The state-owned passenger train operator Elron will announce the tender this autumn. The aim is for the first passenger train to arrive in Estonia in the second half of 2029, allowing enough time for testing and obtaining the necessary certifications before the launch of the service. All trains are expected to arrive in Estonia by the end of June 2030.