Estonia: Elron to open Tartu-Riga train connection in summer 2025

Estonia’s state-owned passenger train operator, Eesti Liinirongid (Elron), plans to open a direct train connection between Tartu in southern Estonia and the Latvian capital, Riga, in summer 2025, BNS reports. Elron will soon begin test runs between Valga and Riga. CEO Lauri Betlem said that the authorisation of trains in Latvia had taken much longer than expected. Raitis Nespors, CEO of Latvia’s passenger train operator, Pasazieru Vilciens (Vivi), pointed out that European standards were now much stricter than before.