Baltic: Plans for passenger train connections between Baltic capitals

Passenger rail service from Estonia’s second-largest city, Tartu, to the Latvian capital, Riga, could begin in the second half of 2025, according to Estonian passenger rail operator Elron, LETA reports. Latvia’s passenger train operator, Pasazieru Vilciens (Vivi), has proposed opening a rail link from Riga to Tartu in spring 2025. Latvia’s Transport Minister, Kaspars Briskens, suggested that the train could run all the way to Estonia’s capital, Tallinn, LSM reports. Also, the ministry is looking at the possibility of extending the Riga-Daugavpils route to the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius. Currently, passenger trains between Estonia and Latvia only run to the border town of Valga. Lithuania’s passenger train operator, LTG Link, has opened a regular connection from Vilnius to Riga.