The Estonian government will allocate EUR 2mn for state-owned rail operator Elron to open a regular passenger train connection between Tartu in southern Estonia and the Latvian capital, Riga, ERR reports. The support would allow Elron to open the new passenger service in spring 2025. Piret Hartman, Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture, said that the rail link to Riga would help improve regional accessibility and quality of life. Elron plans to have one train per day on the new route, departing from Tartu in the evening and returning from Riga in the morning. The service will need an estimated EUR 1mn of state subsidies annually, ERR reports. Tartu mayor Urmas Klaas expects the train link to increase the flow of incoming tourism.
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