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Two Damaged Trains Force Estonian Rail Operator to Cut Key Services
Estonia's state-owned rail company, Elron, will substitute buses for four daily train services on the Tallinn-Rapla line from January 26 to February 11 after accidents in late 2025 took two diesel trains out of commission for repairs.
- —Elron, Estonia's state-owned passenger rail company, will replace four daily train services on the Tallinn-Rapla and Rapla-Tallinn routes with buses from January 26 to February 11 due to a shortage of operational trains.
- —The reduction in services is a direct consequence of two diesel trains being out of service for repairs following accidents in November and December.
- —Additionally, the late evening Tapa-Tartu train service will be temporarily canceled during the same period, impacting passengers connecting from Tallinn.
- —These temporary changes affect approximately 31-33 daily departures on the Tallinn-Rapla line, while services on the Tallinn-Türi and Tallinn-Viljandi lines remain unaffected.
Recap
The temporary service cuts by Elron reveal a critical lack of operational resilience in Estonia's passenger rail system. The sidelining of just two trains from separate accidents has forced a multi-week disruption on a key commuter route, exposing a thin margin of available rolling stock and raising questions about the network's ability to absorb routine operational shocks without impacting passengers.