Compatibility of Elron train with Latvia's railway communication systems tested

TALLINN - The compatibility of the radio communication equipment of the Stadler FLIRT trains of Estonia's state-owned passenger train operator Elron with the railway communication systems of Latvia was successfully tested at the Valga railway station on Tuesday.

The testing is necessary for the certification of Elron's diesel trains for operation on the Latvian railway infrastructure. 

"At the Valga border station, the compatibility of the Stadler FLIRT trains used in Estonia with the newly completed railway communication network of Latvia was successfully tested," Mart Ehrenpreis, member of the management board of Elron, said. "Compatibility with the network is necessary for our trains to be capable of communication while en route and visible on GPS to both the Latvian infrastructure company and other trains running on the same line. During the test, a connection was established with the Latvian Railways traffic control officer, additional adjustments were made, and we saw that the technical solution works."

Ehrenpreis described the radio performance testing as an important milestone in the authorization process for test runs by an Elron train on the Latvian infrastructure, which are necessary for certification.

"We are currently working to ensure that a test run between Valga and Riga can be carried out in September or October," Ehrenpreis said. "The goal is to launch the Tartu-Riga passenger train service in the spring of 2025. The exact timeline depends a lot on the progress of the certification process." 

The certification of Stadler FLIRT trains of Estonia on the Latvian railway infrastructure is handled by the technical inspectorate of Latvian Railways, the European Railway Agency, the Estonian Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority and various companies providing certification services in the field of railways.