Škoda has won a 3.5 billion crowns (almost €147 million) contract to supply the Estonian railway operator Eesti Liinirongid (Elron) with ten electric trains to supplement the six vehicles that it is already constructing for the company.

The trains will be built at Škoda Group’s production site at Ostrava in the Czech Republic, and are for use on a newly electrified section of line between Tallinn and Tartu that is expected to be completed by the end of 2024, which will coincide with when the initial order for the first six trains are expected to be delivered.

They will be similar to RegioPanter trains that Škoda has supplied to the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Latvia, but will be tailored to Elron’s specific requirements.

Production of the first unit started last December and should be ready for assembly in a few weeks. It is planned that the first unit will be completed later this year, after which it will undergo initial testing. Škoda Group plans to deliver a second unit directly to Tallinn for a parallel commissioning process. Delivery to Tallinn will be by road to Riga in Latvia, and then by rail to Estonia.

Although Estonian railways have a wider gauge than the European Standard Gauge, Škoda Group will have no problems meeting Estonia’s specific requirements. These include a dual-voltage design for operating on 3kV and 25kV systems on both newly electrified and older railway lines. In addition, as Estonia has a colder climate than elsewhere in Europe, the trains will be built to withstand the country’s more-challenging temperature extremes.

Zdeněk Sváta, President Region Central East at Škoda Group, said “Our single-deck electric units are proving very well in regional transport in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, where they are very popular and achieve the highest standards for modern and safe transport. The first units have already been delivered to Latvia, which has similar characteristics to Estonia.

“This experience has enabled us to offer Elron a unique tailor-made solution. The client’s trust in our products is the greatest reward for us, so we are glad that the customer decided to use the entire order and modern Škoda trains will be running in Estonia for decades to come.”

Lauri Betlem, chairman of the board of Elron, said “In 2022, Elron served 7.1 million passengers. The need for new trains is great, and last summer, the Government of Estonia approved the order for an additional ten trains. With this decision, Elron’s train fleet will get a significant addition over the next few years, growing by over 40%, which will significantly expand our opportunities to better serve passengers and intensify the timetables.”

Ivo Gurňák, Sales Area Director Mainline at Škoda Group, described the train features as “The new trains place great emphasis on passenger comfort. They have a low-floor entrance, space for two wheelchairs, and four prams. Some of the seats are removable so that the train can be adapted to the current situation – in summer there will be more space for bicycles, in winter more space for passengers. Of course, there is air conditioning, a modern information system, Wi-Fi, 230V, and USB sockets.”