After a wait of more than a year, Estonia’s new Škoda trains are set to make their first official journeys this Saturday. The new long-distance trains will run between Tapa and Tallinn for the first time at the start of 2026.
The new Škoda trains arrived in Estonia last summer, and although they have been seen conducting test runs in some places, they will officially enter into service for the first time this Saturday, traveling from Tallinn to Klooga.
“They will soon gradually start running, as far as the infrastructure allows. As of today, we know that we will be able to launch the westbound connection in mid-December, as the infrastructure there has been ready for a long time,” said Elron management board member Märt Ehrenpreis.
From January 5, Elron is set to open a new line between Tallinn and Tapa. However, the new Škoda trains will not be able to continue on to reach Tartu for the time being, even though they were originally ordered, largely with that destination in mind.
“The best information we have at the moment is that next fall we will be able to switch on the contact network in the direction of Tartu so that electric trains can travel from Tapa to Tartu,” said Arvo Smiltinš, technical director of Eesti Raudtee (Estonian Railways).
Read more: ERR.EE
