What can countries learn from Sweden when it comes to multi-modal ticketing?
Already a frontrunner in ticketing for public transport, Sweden will be the first country to have a nationwide ticket distribution system based on the Open Sales and Distribution Model (OSDM), developed by Estonian-based company Turnit....Read more
Estonia puts price on possible switch to European standard gauge
Estonian Railways ceo Kaido Zimmerman estimates the costs of a potential switch to the European standard gauge to be around 8,7 billion euros. His estimate came in response to a recent proposal by the European...Read more
Standard European gauge for TEN-T: ‘not across the board, not at all costs’
The European Commission kicked up a lot of dust in July when it proposed that all new TEN-T railways be built to the standard European gauge. What does that mean for the countries potentially affected...Read more
Watchdog clear first Rail Baltica environmental impact assessment
Rail Baltica’s environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the Ülemiste-Kangru section was deemed in accordance with the requirements by Estonia’s Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority recently, Rail Baltica announced on Thursday.Read more
Slight growth in support for Rail Baltica, Estonia remains most skeptical
A new survey among residents of the Baltics shows a slight increase in support for the Rail Baltica railway compared to previous years. In Estonia, still half of respondents are not convinced about the new...Read more
Helsinki-Tallinn tunnel can open up rail in Finland and Estonia: ‘we love competition’
InterviewThere is an ambitious plan to build a tunnel from Helsinki to Tallinn. Peter Vesterbacka, COB and founder of the company behind the project and founding partner Kustaa Valtonen talk about the progress of the...Read more
Will the Helsinki-Tallinn tunnel be built privately?
AnalysisAn undersea tunnel between Finland and Estonia, which brings together the two capitals as a twin city. The ‘Talsinki’ tunnel is a vision of entrepreneur Peter Vesterbacka, but the countries’ governments are wary to have...Read more
‘Rail Baltica is at least three times more expensive for Estonia than HS2 for the UK’
InterviewRail Baltica is without a doubt one of the largest railway projects in Europe, but there exist doubts about whether the benefits outweigh the high costs in the Baltic states. RailTech talked to Priit Humal...Read more
Rail Baltica awards electrification to Italian-German-Spanish consortium
A consortium of engineering company Italferr (of FS Italiane Group), Deutsche Bahn and the Spanish Idom will carry out the electrification of the new high-speed line Rail Baltica. It is the largest single contract for...Read more
Finland and Estonia signed MoU including Helsinki-Tallinn tunnel
Finland and Estonia signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Monday 26 April 2021 for more cooperation. This will promote projects such as Rail Baltica, the Helsinki-Tallinn tunnel, Trans-European Transport Networks, and the North Sea–Baltic Sea...Read more
Rail Baltica shows first high-speed train concept
Rail Baltica has developed the first high-speed virtual concept of the train that will connect the Baltic states with the European railway network. The provided virtual concept train illustrates the features of the high-speed train....Read more
Operail started converting its first LNG freight locomotive
Operail, an international railway logistics company from Estonia, has started conversion for its first LNG freight locomotive last week. The project was delayed due to Covid, and with the new schedule, the LNG locomotive should...Read more
Estonia invests 122.5 million in rail in 2021
In the plans of Estonia’s new government, developing the railways is a key feature. Among the projects are the further electrification of the railways, the construction of the international passenger terminals of Tallinn and Pärnu...Read more