Tallinn-Tartu-Riga-Vilnius train journey to become more convenient, affordable

TALLINN - Starting from Monday, the Riga-Valga section of the Tallinn-Tartu-Riga-Vilnius passenger train connection will be served by a modern PESA 730 ML train, and passengers traveling to Lithuania will no longer have to change trains in Riga -- international tickets for the connection will become more affordable, and for example, the full price of a Tallinn-Vilnius trip will be reduced to 39 euros.

"The Tallinn-Tartu-Riga-Vilnius train connection, launched on Jan. 6 by harmonizing the Baltic timetables, has received a lot of positive feedback from passengers," Lauri Betlem, chairman of the management board of Estonian passenger train operator Elron, said. "When the connection was established, we agreed on how we would gradually improve the passenger train connection between the three countries -- we will reduce the number of transfers and create the possibility of buying one ticket instead of three for journeys involving three countries."

Starting from Feb. 10, Latvian passenger train operator Vivi will operate the Riga-Valga section of the connection with a PESA 730 ML train leased from Lithuanian passenger train operator LTG Link, and there is no longer a need to change trains at the Riga train station. Passengers will still need to transfer from Elron's Stadler Flirt train to the PESA train in Valga.

"Thanks to close cooperation with our Baltic partners, we took a big step forward earlier this year and opened a full-fledged train connection between Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn. In cooperation with the Lithuanian carrier, we are fulfilling our promise to improve the passenger experience on the Riga-Valga route with a modern diesel train that increases comfort and reduces the number of transfers," Raitis Nešpors, CEO of Pasažieru vilciens, said.

The PESA 730 ML train has better travel comfort and catering compared to the modernized DR1 diesel train that has been serving the connection so far. From Feb. 10, the timetable will also change minimally, but the overall travel time will remain the same.

"When Rail Baltic launches, the train journey from Vilnius to Tallinn will take less than four hours. But even before the construction of the European-gauge railway, we have been working with our Latvian and Estonian partners to develop the most optimal train connection solutions between the three Baltic states," Kristina Meidė, CEO of LTG Link, said. "In the first stage, we synchronized the timetables and enabled passengers to travel between Vilnius and Tallinn in one day. In the second stage, we will offer a one-transfer trip, where passengers can purchase one ticket at a lower price."

From Feb. 10, it will be possible to buy tickets for trips covering the three countries at a lower price than if buying them separately from three operators. For example, the three full tickets required for a Tallinn-Vilnius trip cost 53.50 euros when purchased separately from the operators, but 39 euros as a joint direct ticket.

More information about the possibility of purchasing a direct ticket covering the three countries can be found on Elron's website.

Tickets covering two or one country must be purchased separately from each passenger train operator. Depending on the operator, tickets can be purchased online, via an app, at a ticket machine, or from a customer service representative on board the train.