Schienenverkehr in Estland

2016-03-27T21:21:55Z

Vulc:

[[File:Tallinn Electric Train Station.jpg|thumb|right|300px|''[[Balti jaam]]'' (literally ''the Baltic Station'') is the main passenger railway station of [[Estonia]]'s capital [[Tallinn]].]]
[[File:Stadler Flirt Keila jaamas1.jpg|thumb|Stadler FLIRT in Keila station.]]

The '''rail transport system in Estonia''' consists of about {{convert|1200|km}} of [[railway]] lines, of which {{convert|900|km}} are currently in public use. The infrastructure of the railway network is mostly owned by the state and is regulated and surveyed by the Estonian Technical Surveillance Authority ({{lang-et|Tehnilise Järelevalve Amet}}).

All public railways in [[Estonia]] are {{RailGauge|1520mm}} ([[Russian gauge]]), the same as in [[Russia]], [[Belarus]], [[Latvia]], and [[Lithuania]]. The {{RailGauge|1520mm|disp=1}} [[Rail gauge|gauge]] used in Estonia is also compatible with [[Finland]]'s {{RailGauge|1524mm}} gauge. Sometimes it is defined to be {{RailGauge|1524mm|disp=1}} (see [[Rail gauge in Estonia]]), for example when buying track maintenance or vehicles from Finland.

Railways in Estonia today are used mostly for freight transport, but also for passenger traffic. Passenger transport is most frequent near Tallinn, centred on the main [[Balti jaam]].

==History==
{{main|History of rail transport in Estonia}}

==Network==
[[File:Saue raudteejaam.jpg|thumb|right|A train embarking from [[Saue]] railway station]]
* Total length: circa 1,200 km, of which 900 km in public use<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tja.ee/?id=12440 |title=Estonian Technical Surveillance Authority |date= |accessdate=2008-12-09}}</ref>
* Gauge: {{RailGauge|1520mm}} [[Russian gauge]]
* Electrified: {{convert|133|km|abbr=on}}.

The Estonian railway network is owned by the state-owned company [[Eesti Raudtee|AS Eesti Raudtee]] and the private company [[Edelaraudtee]] Infrastruktuuri AS. These railway network infrastructure operators provide all railway network services for railway operators running freight and passenger services. AS Eesti Raudtee provides approximately {{convert|800|km}} of track, of which {{convert|107|km}} is [[double track]] and {{convert|133|km}} is [[electrified]]. Edelaraudtee Infrastruktuuri AS maintains {{convert|298|km}} of track which consists of {{convert|219|km}} of main line and {{convert|79|km}} of station line.

=== Main lines ===
[[File:Eesti Raudteed.svg|275px|right|thumbnail|Railway lines in public use as of 2015.]]
[[File:Viron.png|275px|right|thumbnail|<center>All railway lines in Estonia (including demolished)]]
Owned by [[Eesti Raudtee|AS Eesti Raudtee]]:
* '''[[Tallinn]]–[[Tapa, Estonia|Tapa]]–[[Narva]]''', {{convert|209.6|km|abbr=on}}. This line was completed in 1870. It was originally a part of the railway network of the [[Russian Empire]], connecting [[Paldiski]] to [[St. Petersburg]] via Tallinn and Narva. Passenger trains are operated by [[Elron (rail transit)|Elron]] (Tallinn–[[Aegviidu]], Tallinn–Tartu, Tallinn–[[Rakvere]] and Tallinn–Narva routes) and GO Rail (international trains to [[Moscow]] and [[St. Petersburg]], Russia).
* '''Tallinn–[[Keila]]–[[Paldiski]]''', {{convert|47.7|km|abbr=on}}. Passenger trains are operated by [[Elron (rail transit)|Elron]] (Tallinn–[[Pääsküla]], Tallinn–Keila, Tallinn–Paldiski and Tallinn–[[Klooga-rand]] routes).
* '''Keila–[[Riisipere]]''', {{convert|24.4|km|abbr=on}}. This line is part of the former Keila–[[Haapsalu]] line, that was completed in 1905. Riisipere–Haapsalu section was abandoned in 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jaam.ee/index.php?lk=32&show=51 |title=Eesti Raudteemuuseum |date= |accessdate=2008-12-09|language=et}}</ref> Passenger trains are operated by [[Elron (rail transit)|Elron]] (Tallinn–Riisipere route).
* '''[[Tapa, Estonia|Tapa]]–[[Tartu]]''', {{convert|112.5|km|abbr=on}}. Completed in 1877.<ref name=evr>{{cite web |url=http://www.evr.ee/?id=1313 |title=About Estonian Railways: Corporate information: History |publisher=Eesti Raudtee |accessdate=2008-12-10}}</ref> Passenger trains are operated by [[Elron (rail transit)|Elron]] (Tallinn–Tartu and Tartu–[[Jõgeva]] routes).
* '''Tartu–[[Valga, Estonia|Valga]]''', 82.5 km. Completed in 1887.<ref name=evr/> International connection from Valga in Estonia to [[Valka]] in [[Latvia]]. Passenger trains between [[Tartu]] and [[Valga, Estonia|Valga]] are operated by [[Elron (rail transit)|Elron]]. Passenger trains between [[Valga, Estonia|Valga]] and [[Riga]] are operated by [[Latvian Railways]].
* '''Tartu–[[Pechory]]''', {{convert|83.5|km|abbr=on}}. Built between 1929 and 1931. International connection from [[Koidula railway station]] ([[Koidula, Põlva County|Koidula]]) in Estonia to Pechory in Russia. Passenger trains are operated by [[Elron (rail transit)|Elron]] (Tartu–[[Koidula, Põlva County|Koidula]] route).
* '''Valga–Pechory''', {{convert|91.5|km|abbr=on}}. Part of [[Riga]]–[[Pskov]] railway, which was opened to regular traffic in 1889.<ref name=evr/> International connection from [[Koidula railway station]] in Estonia to Pechory in Russia. The line is used only by freight trains.

Owned by Edelaraudtee Infrastruktuuri AS:
* '''Tallinn–[[Lelle]]–[[Pärnu]]–([[Mõisaküla]])''', {{convert|141.4|km|abbr=on}} (formerly 190.0 km). International connection has existed from Mõisaküla to Latvia, but the stretch Pärnu–Mõisaküla was abandoned in 2008.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/393117 |title=Mõisaküla: viimane sõit raudteed pidi Pärnusse |author=Tanel Mazur |publisher=[[Eesti Päevaleht]] |date=2007-07-16 |accessdate=2007-08-11|language=et}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.parnupostimees.ee/091108/artiklid/10091058_1.php |title=Koos Pärnu-Mõisaküla raudteega hääbub elu ja sureb linn |author=Tõnu Kann |publisher=[[Pärnu Postimees]] |date=2008-11-08 |accessdate=2008-11-13|language=et}}</ref>
* '''Lelle–[[Viljandi]]''', {{convert|78.7|km|abbr=on}}. This line connects Viljandi to the Tallinn–Pärnu line via Lelle.

===Major industrial railways===
* '''[[Eesti Põlevkivi|Põlevkivi Raudtee]]''' (''oil shale railway'') maintains over {{convert|200|km|abbr=on}} of track in [[Ida-Virumaa]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ep.ee/?id=1247 |title=Eesti Põlevkivi: Raudteetransport |date= |accessdate=2008-12-10|language=et}}</ref> Main use of the network is transporting [[oil shale]] from underground and open-cast mines to the [[Narva Power Plants]]. The company is a subsidiary of Eesti Põlevkivi, which itself is a subsidiary of [[Eesti Energia]], owned by the state.
* '''[[Rakvere]]–[[Kunda, Estonia|Kunda]]''', {{convert|19|km|abbr=on}}. Built in 1896,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.heidelbergcement.com/ee/en/kunda/firmast/ajalugu.htm |title=138 years of cement |date= |accessdate=2008-12-10}}</ref> this line connects the industrial town of Kunda to the Tallinn–Tapa–Narva line. The line is owned by private company Kunda Trans.

==Connections to adjacent countries==
Daily passenger services connect [[Tallinn]] with [[Moscow]] (night train; travel time is 15 hours), and [[Saint Petersburg]], both operated by the Estonian company [[GoRail]].

As of summer 2008 three daily trains operated by [[Latvian Railways]] connect [[Riga]] ([[Latvia]]) to [[Valga, Estonia|Valga]] (Estonia). The other railway lines to neighbouring countries are not used for direct passenger traffic at the moment. It is possible to travel between Tallinn and Riga with train change at Valga, and the timetables of Tallinn–Valga and Valga–Riga are adjusted for that purpose, but this still takes a long time compared to bus (travel time about 5 hours) or air.

Historic lines are Tallinn–Moscow via Tartu–Pechory, and Riga–St. Petersburg, which passed through Estonia from Valka, Latvia to Valga, Estonia–[[Võru]]–[[Piusa]]–Pechory, Russia. Both were closed in the 1990s.

There are plans for a new high-speed line Tallinn–Riga (continuing to Poland), [[Rail Baltica]], planned to be in operation around 2020.

=== Railway links with adjacent countries ===
* Same gauge:
** {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[Rail transport in Latvia|Latvia]] – yes
*** at [[Valga, Estonia|Valga]] – diesel trains only
** {{flagicon|Russia}} [[Rail transport in Russia|Russia]] – yes
*** at [[Narva]] – diesel trains only
*** near [[Võru]] – diesel trains only

==Operators==
Freight trains are operated by [[Eesti Raudtee]] and private companies including Estonian Railway Services (E.R.S. AS),<ref>[http://www.ers.com.ee/ersweb/index.php?lang=en E.R.S. about us] ''www.ers.com.ee''</ref> and Spacecom.<ref>[http://www.spacecom.ee/eng/index.html The Joint Stock Company Spacecom] ''www.spacecom.ee''</ref>

Passenger services are offered by three operators:
* [[Elron (rail transit)|Elron]], domestic routes
* [[Russian Railways]], Tallinn–[[Saint Petersburg]] and Tallinn–[[Moscow]]
* [[Pasažieru vilciens]], Valga–[[Riga]]

==See also==
* [[Narrow gauge railways in Estonia]]
* [[Rail transport by country]]
* [[Transport in Estonia]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.tja.ee/?id=12416 Division of railways at Estonian Technical Surveillance Authority] — Web pages containing various statistical information about the railway network and operations in Estonia.
* [http://www.tja.ee/public/kaart_02_06_jpg.jpg Map of public railways and railway stations]
* [http://www.evr.ee/?lang=en National railway company Eesti Raudtee]
* [http://www.jaam.ee/index.php?lk=32&setlng=12 Estonian Railway Museum in Haapsalu (history page)] {{et icon}}
* [http://www.gorail.ee/?lang=ru Estonian private Railway Company "GoRail" official website] {{ru icon}}/{{et icon}}
*http://www.terradaily.com/2004/040822030207.mfpx57sq.html – Estonia: End of the line for Europe's passenger rail network

{{Tallinn landmarks}}
{{Rail transport in Europe}}

[[Category:Rail transport in Estonia| ]]

Wikipedia - Benutzerbeiträge [de]

Schienenverkehr in Estland