The long-awaited Tartu-Riga train made its inaugural run on January 5, before the route would officially launch later this month, and was met with celebrations along the route.
Elron’s orange train departed from a festively decked-out Tartu Railway Station at 10:05 a.m.
Platform one was decorated with orange and white balloons in the color of the state passenger train company, along with red and white ones for Latvia’s flag and white, black and blue for Estonia’s.
The train itself was also decorated with ribbons in the colors of the two countries’ flags.
“Tartu station is dressed for celebration. Something long-awaited is about to come true,” Elron wrote on its Facebook page.
The arrival of the train was met with celebration further down the track, from kindergarteners waving flags in Estonia’s Elva to musical performances in Latvia’s Cesis and Sigulda. The new timetable was also unveiled at every stop.
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“On the welcome trip, we will introduce the new train line to the public, local governments and representatives of the tourism sector in both Estonia and Latvia,” said Elron Chairman of the Board Lauri Betlem. “The direct line is equally important for the people of Southern Estonia and Northern Latvia, as it helps to strengthen economic ties and promote tourism.”
When it comes into service next week, the route will stop at Tartu, Elva and Valga in Estonia, then Valmiera, Cesis station, Sigulda and finally the Latvian capital.
According to the current timetable, the Tartu-Riga trip takes 3 hours and 41 minutes, the Tallinn-Riga trip takes 5 hours and 56 minutes.
A ticket from Tartu to Riga will cost EUR 19-22 and from Tallinn to Riga EUR 29-32. The route will be served by a two-car Stadler Flirt diesel train.
While the Tallinn-Vilnius route was launched last year, the Tartu-Riga connection has been long-delayed. (ERR)