On Monday, 12 January, in the afternoon (at 14:50), the first regular train will depart from Tallinn Baltic Station on the Tallinn–Tartu–Riga route, arriving at Riga Central Railway Station at 20:46. Initially, tickets will be available only for international passengers; domestic tickets in Latvia on the Valmiera–Riga route will be available for purchase within the coming weeks.
“Elron” Management Board member Märt Ehrenpreis explains:
“In cooperation with passenger train operators in Latvia and Lithuania, we have been providing a connection on the Tallinn–Tartu–Riga–Vilnius route with transfers for more than a year, and passenger interest has been high. Last year, more than 16,000 passengers used the opportunity to travel by train between Latvia and Lithuania and in the opposite direction. By launching a direct service on the Tallinn–Tartu–Riga route without transfers, train travel between Estonia and Latvia will become even more convenient. This route is equally important for residents of southern Estonia and northern Latvia, as it promotes stronger economic ties and the development of tourism.”
Initially, only international tickets will be sold on the Tallinn–Tartu–Riga route. Domestic tickets in Latvia on the Valmiera–Riga route will be available for purchase within the coming weeks.
More information about the route is available in Latvian at
https://elron.ee/tiesais-marsruts-tallina-tartu-riga
and in English at
https://elron.ee/en/Tallinn-Tartu-Riga
- Regular service on the Tallinn–Tartu–Riga route begins on 12 January.
- From 12 January, the train on the Tallinn–Tartu–Riga route will depart from Tallinn at 14:50, from Tartu at 17:05, and arrive in Riga at 20:46.
- From Riga, the train will depart at 7:38, arrive in Tartu at 11:25, and in Tallinn at 13:57. The first departure on the Tallinn–Tartu–Riga route will take place on 13 January at 7:38.
- According to the current timetable, travel time from Tartu to Riga is 3 hours and 41 minutes, and from Tallinn to Riga 5 hours and 56 minutes.
- The ticket price from Tartu to Riga will be €19 when purchased online or €22 when purchased on the train; from Tallinn to Riga €29 when purchased online or €32 when purchased on the train. The route will be operated by a two-car “Stadler Flirt” diesel train.
- International tickets can be purchased in advance online and on board the train.
From 12 January, only international tickets are sold on the Tallinn–Tartu–Riga route. At present, domestic passengers on the Valmiera–Riga route are not served. “Elron” will begin serving domestic passengers in Latvia within the coming weeks. As soon as tickets are available, information will be published on the website www.elron.ee.
The launch of the Tallinn–Tartu–Valga–Riga route is being implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Climate of the Republic of Estonia, the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture, the City of Tartu, the Latvian passenger train operator “Vivi,” and other Latvian partners.
Existing connections between Tallinn, Tartu, and Riga will also continue to operate:
- In January 2025, a once-daily passenger train connection with one transfer was launched on the Tallinn–Tartu–Valga–Riga–Vilnius route. The Tallinn–Valga section is operated by “Elron,” the Valga–Riga section by the Latvian passenger train operator “Vivi,” and the Riga–Vilnius section by the Lithuanian passenger train operator “LTG Link.”
- In September 2025, an additional connection with a transfer was introduced on the Tallinn–Tartu–Riga route, operating from Friday to Sunday (the Tallinn–Valga section is operated by “Elron,” and the Valga–Riga section by the Latvian passenger train operator “Vivi”).
“Elron” (AS “Eesti Liinirongid”) is the state-owned passenger railway operator providing services on infrastructure owned by AS “Eesti Raudtee” and AS “Edelaraudtee.” In 2024, “Elron” trains carried 7.93 million passengers.
Additional information:
Marta Mackeviča
+371 20393183
marta.mackevica@miltton.com
www.miltton.lv