Estonian Rail Service Cuts Routes, Cites Train Shortage from 2025 Crash
Estonia's national rail operator Elron has altered its schedules, shortening some eastern and southern journeys by up to 18 minutes while replacing select Tallinn-Rapla services with buses due to a critical shortage of diesel trains following a late 2025 accident.
- —Estonian rail operator Elron has implemented new train schedules affecting eastern, southern, and southwestern routes, with some journeys now up to 18 minutes shorter.
- —The changes include an earlier departure for the first Tapa–Tallinn train, adjusted based on passenger feedback to facilitate timely arrival for the workday.
- —Due to a shortage of diesel trains following an accident in late 2025, a reduced number of Tallinn–Rapla services will be temporarily operated by buses.
- —Specifically, the 16:59 Tallinn–Rapla (route 391) and 19:15 Rapla–Tallinn (route 334) services will be replaced by buses.
Recap
Elron's schedule overhaul is a direct consequence of a significant operational failure, forcing the state-owned operator to manage a train shortage with temporary bus services. The company is balancing service reductions on some routes with efficiency gains on others, using passenger feedback to soften the impact. This situation reveals the fragility of the rail network's rolling stock and signals a period of continued disruption for commuters as infrastructure work will necessitate further changes.