ESTONIA | Railways | Raudteed [Archive]

Tin_Can

May 31st, 2011, 12:05 AM

^^
If you found smth interesting,then maybe you could post it in On Air! thread? ;)

Tinnie, dont forget also a Hy-Rail systems.

Eesti Raudtee uses Heavy Duty Fords and Sisu Trucks with HyRail.:
And Leonhard Weiss RTE (former VolkerRail) uses HyRail excavators and Scania trucks.

Few more photos of Eesti Raudtee HyRail vehicles.
http://i56.tinypic.com/28sveo6.jpg

http://i52.tinypic.com/5kou80.jpg

And VolkerRail's HyRail excavator. In summer these are used in various construction & maintenance works,but in winter they work as light snowploughs. When snow coverage isn't too deep,they can easily clean tracks (specialized railway snowploughs are used for deep snow)
http://i53.tinypic.com/1jaof8.jpg

Köh-köh, kas keegi viitsiks ette võtta suveprojekti ja pildistada kõik Eesti raudteejaamade veetornid ülesse, või võiks teha üle Eestilise fotovõistluse. Suht huvitav materjal. Kas teha facebookis üleskutse ja siduda mingi movement week vms üritusega?

+1. It would be excellent & noble cause. If someone manages to set smth up,then I'm more than happy to contribute few photos :)

I think it's the last chance to photograph historic water towers (and railway architecture),as many of them are in bad shape. Vandalism and disuse is rapidly deteriorating old buildings and there's no telling how much railway architecture has been lost already...

Btw,thinking big - this project could be used for smth useful,like setting up website dedicated to railway architecture or publishing a book (maybe even Eesti Raudtee is interested of helping a bit?)

Tin_Can

May 31st, 2011, 05:19 AM

Few videos of Estonian trains.

Eesti Raudtee C36-7.
IMMRWQD7jWo

Edelaraudtee CME-3 hauling GoRail Moscow express.
RKGqwBx9tIw

GoRail's Tallinn-Moscow train (with TEP-70)
HfhxzucJoPE

Elektriraudtee ER2 electric train.
T7cahvnDv88

All videos are by Youtube user nerve83 (http://www.youtube.com/user/nerve83),all rights reserved. I recommend you to also check out other train videos by this user (Estonian & Latvian trains :) excellent HD stuff!)

Wover

May 31st, 2011, 09:05 AM

Also some videos of YouTube user "Dashloc", a French guy who mostly captures TGV's in France, but came here 2 summers ago:

XW0nzBYgZwI

qOALfFe7JcY

jElZRRQ3ggw

Urbanisaatio

May 31st, 2011, 11:50 AM

The future - Estonian Stadler Flirt's.

http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/Raudhunt/4859954728_591255e718_b.jpg

We have exactly those same trains (sm5) They came to Finland in the beginning of 2008.

http://www.raitio.org/news/uukuva08/sm5.jpg

http://www.raitio.org/news/uukuva08/sm5_1.jpg

Inside

http://www.junakalusto.fi/kpimages/sm5_sisakuva_1_100928125546.jpg

A few videos in action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo3AnJSQGQE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLTEaYk6t9A&feature=related

Tin_Can

May 31st, 2011, 03:24 PM

^^
Our Stadler Flirt's will be based on Finnish Sm5 design because of basically same track gauge (1520mm & 1524mm) and weather conditions. Only diesel trains will be slightly different.
Btw,we even have testing period with same length as Finland had - first (electric) trains arrive in 2012 and should enter public service in 2013 (in 2013 first diesel trains arrive for testing and enter service in 2014)

OT - as far as I understand,Finnish Sm5 delivery is still in progress,as in spring Sm5 along with Norwegian Flirt's were assembled in Stadler factory. When are the last ones delivered for Junakalusto OY?

manrush

May 31st, 2011, 11:45 PM

Ah yes, the hand-me-down C36 locomotives.

Are they that much heavier than the Russian-made and Ukrainian-made locs?

Tin_Can

June 1st, 2011, 01:18 PM

Ah yes, the hand-me-down C36 locomotives.

Are they that much heavier than the Russian-made and Ukrainian-made locs?

I'm not sure about their weight but so far it's been said that they are able to haul A LOT heavier trains than Russian & Ukrainian locomotives,thus putting lot more weight on railways. They are probably in same weight class as 2TE116's & 2M62's (< phased out about decade ago),as they often also operate in pairs. On rare occasions three C36's are used for extra heavy trains.
C36's have managed to create serious concern and have raised lots of questions. Few major issues so far:

Railway bridges & railways with wood sleepers might not support weight of American loco's - officials have avoided commenting this issue.
vibrations caused by C36's might damage buildings close to railways - to some extent has been proven and size of freight trains have been reduced.
Too loud train horns - it ain't no rural America here and C36 caught serious criticism for using them in urban areas (especially during nights) Right now all of them use different horns than originally fitted (I'm not sure if they have been replaced or just toned down)

Imho,purchase of refurbished C30's & C36's in early 2000's was really bad decision for Eesti Raudtee. During the time of purchase Eesti Raudtee was briefly privately owned and it's owners didn't give a rat's ass about economic operation,otherwise they could have chosen European made new locomotives. Instead they were only interested of hauling as much cargo as possible.
Eesti Raudtee,which is now state owned again,is not going to replace C36 is any close future. Instead they will operate them as long as they can,as no one is willing to buy old American locomotives. :ohno: We're stuck with them forever...

Rebasepoiss

June 1st, 2011, 05:08 PM

Ah yes, the hand-me-down C36 locomotives.

Are they that much heavier than the Russian-made and Ukrainian-made locs?
Yes, they are quite a bit heavier. Russian-made locos have an axle-weight of approx. 25 tons, for US locos it's 30 tons.

Too loud train horns - it ain't no rural America here and C36 caught serious criticism for using them in urban areas (especially during nights) Right now all of them use different horns than originally fitted (I'm not sure if they have been replaced or just toned down)
[/LIST]

In Estonia, trains have a whistle and a horn. Whistle is most often used since it's quieter. When Eesti Raudtee bought the US locos, they also fitted them with whistles since trains in the US don't have them.

A good example of the difference between a whistle and a horn:
6lFzaveJ2ZQ

And GE C-36 using the whistle:
UaKMX2DiMv8

Tin_Can

June 2nd, 2011, 02:29 PM

Rebasepoiss

June 2nd, 2011, 04:12 PM

^^ The testing period begins on 21 December 2012 so only 10 days before the last deadline for finishing the low platforms.

Tin_Can

June 3rd, 2011, 08:44 AM

Airex Composite Structures,sub-contractor of Stadler,is starting production of parts required for Estonian trains.

http://i52.tinypic.com/20pt1dj.jpg
Airex Composite Structures (ACS) receives the acceptance of Stadler Rail for the production of FLIRT front ends for 38 train units. All trains for Tallinn, Estonia will be supplied with the approved front ends of ACS, fulfilling the high requirements of the OEM and operator.

Full press release,via railway-technology.com: http://www.railway-technology.com/contractors/door/acs/press15.html

xkala1x

June 3rd, 2011, 07:09 PM

28. juuni 2013 - Esimese elektrirongi käikuandmine reisijate teenindamiseks
Antud kuupäeval saavad esimest korda kõik Eesti inimesed sõita uue Stadler Flirt rongiga. Esialgsete plaanide kohaselt hakkab elektrirong sõitma liinil Tallinn-Keila.

xkala1x

June 3rd, 2011, 07:10 PM

C30

June 4th, 2011, 10:22 AM

Edelaraudtee is something that bothers me much. I don't think any politician has the right to say he has bought the railway back before the Pärnu and Viljandi lines are under direct state control. It is not like the government is saving any money with the current situation, large financial support is necessary.

The second problem I have with railways in Estonia is that there seem to be no direct plans for reconstructing Balti Jaam. Sure, the platforms will get a makeover, and the market should become a financial district sometime, but the station will still require some work.

A third complaint is the stupid design of the new platforms. You're not going to be especially protected from November storms, or from almost anything for that matter...

But these things aside, railway development in Estonia is moving in a favorable direction right now.

Rebasepoiss

June 4th, 2011, 11:53 AM

C30

June 4th, 2011, 12:19 PM

^^ I don't see a big problem with Edelaraudtee, really. If the operating rights of new diesel trains go to someone else (e.g Elektriraudtee), then that company would just start paying Edelaraudtee for using its infrastructure, like it would pay to any other railway infrastructure owner.

Balti Jaam is a bit of a sad case, IMO. As long as it's in that location, it will never be a crowded railway station. I would only add a glass roof on the main part of the platforms.

I've also read a lot of complaints about the design of the platforms and I don't really see how you could solve that issue. It's nearly impossible to make a two-sided platform weather proof for passenger. Those bus pavilion type of things that some platforms had before just looked ridiculous, IMO.

You may be right about Edelaraudtee. I guess it's only in my head, but I really think the state should own all major railway infrastructure. The current reconstruction works and the operations are to a large extent paid for by the government anyway.

As for the platforms, it should be easy to integrate at least some kind of wall structure into the shelter, as seen in this (http://www.jarnvag.net/images/bild/veckansbild/Lund100807.jpg) Swedish picture.

Tin_Can

June 4th, 2011, 01:01 PM

The second problem I have with railways in Estonia is that there seem to be no direct plans for reconstructing Balti Jaam. Sure, the platforms will get a makeover, and the market should become a financial district sometime, but the station will still require some work.

Hiring few security guards who would keep bums & junkies off the station territory and overlooking legality of rental documents of that shady 'market' & casino in & around former local trains terminal (linnalähirongide saal,see kus Nõuka ajal elektrirongide pileteid sai osta) would do more than any renovation could do :D

It's annoying that by some mysterious rental deal large part of Balti/Baltic/central train station got turned into some f**ing s***** 'market' which attracts 'yo man,got 5 bucks?' kind of types :no: I'm so pissed off because of it! :mad:

Tin_Can

June 4th, 2011, 01:59 PM

Few photos of railway reconstruction works in Tallinn,between central train station and Ülemiste station.

You can read more about stuff going on there from Postimees: http://www.tallinnapostimees.ee/?id=446460

Ongoing track ballast replacement in Ülemiste. Click for larger view.
http://i53.tinypic.com/2pu0h3l.jpg (http://i55.tinypic.com/xf68ep.jpg)

Veerenni street crossing.
http://i51.tinypic.com/iwodiu.jpg

HyRail excavator grabbed that rail and raced towards central train station. Last time I saw it,it was hiding under Pärnu mnt viaduct.
http://i55.tinypic.com/2wp0x1d.jpg

Kitseküla station.
http://i54.tinypic.com/f0sqae.jpg

http://i56.tinypic.com/2lbj613.jpg

View West...
http://i56.tinypic.com/16c1lac.jpg

..and East.
http://i56.tinypic.com/5yet1c.jpg

Svartmetall

June 4th, 2011, 02:58 PM

^^ The difference between old and new tracks is quite marked. A vast improvement indeed - great pictures! :)

Ebajalg

June 4th, 2011, 03:55 PM

Let's just hope that they'll fix the surroundings of the tracks also. More grass and new fences etc.

Maadeuurija

June 6th, 2011, 02:11 PM

Does anyone know if Eesti Raudtee is planning to introduce longer freight trains (up to 1500m long)?
EDIT: Päevalehe artikel http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/598378 in estonian
Peagi tabavad ootusärevad silmapaarid kauguses üle piirisilla rühkiva rongi. Kahel ähkival veduril on taga kuuskümmend tsisterni masuudiga, mis peaks siit peagi mürinal edasi Muuga sadamasse liikuma. „Liiga pika tee ehitasime – rong on ju nii lühike! Kellel seda pooltteist kilomeetrit vaja on?” muigab keegi. Just nii pikaks on ehitatud jaama kümme rööpapaari. Nimelt – kui Vene vedurid jaksavad vedada tavaliselt kilomeetripikkuseid ronge, siis Koidulas saab suurema veojõuga Eesti Raudtee Ameerika päritolu vedurite ehk „ameeriklaste” sappa poole kilomeetri jagu enam vaguneid veerema panna.

Edaspidi hakkavadki asjad käima nii, et Petseri ja Koidula vahel pendeldavad kaubavagunid Eesti Raudtee Venemaalt pärit veduritega ning Eesti poolel liigutatakse neid sihtkohta ja tagasi „ameeriklastega”. Venemaa pinnale neid ei lasta, sest nagu teada, Ameerika „imperialismi” eri avaldumisvormidesse ei suhtuta seal senini sugugi hästi. Või siis on need vägevad metallruunad Venemaa raudteede jaoks lihtsalt liiga rasked.

estlander

June 6th, 2011, 04:49 PM

Does anyone know if Eesti Raudtee is planning to introduce longer freight trains (up to 1500m long)?

why, wanna start small train restaurant, Spa or shooting range business?

Nice C30, me like that sporty ass of swedish chick :D

Maadeuurija

June 6th, 2011, 05:15 PM

why, wanna start small train restaurant, Spa or shooting range business?
i wanna know cause when Päevaleht wrote about Koidula border station they mentioned that station rail sidings are 1500m long, and in google earth you can see that in Narva rails in station are also 1500m long

Tin_Can

June 6th, 2011, 07:57 PM

Well,you can be sure that they calculated maximum possible capacity and then added lots of extra meters to it ;) Tracks in Koidula might be 1500m long,but I seriously doubt if they will ever have as long trains there. It's more about extra space for shunters,manoeuvring and sorting freight wagons and fitting all waiting trains to station tracks.
And even current freight trains have been cut shorter (erm...to 800-1000m? does anyone know exact number?) as they create noise. Longer trains,more locomotives hauling it = more noise.

Rebasepoiss

June 6th, 2011, 09:22 PM

I guess 1500m is the planning standard as it's pretty much the longest a freight train can legally be in Estonia. BTW, there are plenty of stations that can't handle 1500m trains: Tartu, Ülemiste, Kopli etc...that's why it's inconvenient to run them.

Edela

June 6th, 2011, 11:00 PM

The max. length of freight trains in Estonia is 90 cars and weight is 8000 (for C36-7i). It's about 1800 meters long. We had these trains in 2006-2007, but now there is no such traffic to make up these extra long trains. By the way, in 2007 there was built sidings in port of Muuga to run extra long trains without entering Muuga station, but they have never been used...
Now, the max. length of freight trains is 57 cars (about 1200 meters). But it is because of traffic, not technical or legal restrictions.

Longer trains,more locomotives hauling it = more noise.
It is not true, I think. It is possible to haul extra long trains with 2 C36-7i. If there added 3th loco, it is idling or all 3 locos using less power (6 or 7 throttle position instead 8), so noise level is same.

Edela

June 6th, 2011, 11:06 PM

BTW, there are plenty of stations that can't handle 1500m trains: Tartu, Ülemiste, Kopli etc...that's why it's inconvenient to run them.
Extra long trains that run in Estonia pass all stations without stops. They run from border stations directly to Muuga station.

Tin_Can

June 7th, 2011, 10:55 AM

It is not true, I think. It is possible to haul extra long trains with 2 C36-7i. If there added 3th loco, it is idling or all 3 locos using less power (6 or 7 throttle position instead 8), so noise level is same.

They actually made some study about it few years before Masu and it showed that longer trains had slightly higher noise (not much though - about few dB)
But I guess it won't be big issue,if they manage locomotives in such way as you said.

Tin_Can

June 7th, 2011, 11:08 AM

As for the platforms, it should be easy to integrate at least some kind of wall structure into the shelter, as seen in this (http://www.jarnvag.net/images/bild/veckansbild/Lund100807.jpg) Swedish picture.Nice C30, me like that sporty ass of swedish chick :D

I noticed train first,then those platform shelters C30 was talking about and eventually that chick.... :shifty: Tbh,I might have some issues....

Tin_Can

June 7th, 2011, 11:44 AM

Siemens Osakeyhtiö Estonian branch handed over Koidula border station security & control system.

http://live.logistikauudised.ee/images/publicationimages/01db0538-bef8-49e9-a47b-d410213add1b.jpg

Fully digital automated control system allows monitoring and controlling train traffic in Koidula (even remotely when necessary) Cost of system was 7,7 million euros. For maximum security,safety level of SIL-4 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safety_Integrity_Level) is used

It's another step towards completion of Koidula station. One of the last things to be completed is x-ray complex for scanning freight trains. Chinese company who built it,is starting system tests and x-ray complex should be fully functional in September.

Source: http://www.logistikauudised.ee/article/2011/6/7/ronge-koidula-jaamas-saab-juhtida-tallinnast

Start of passenger train service in South-Eastern Estonia is delayed.

Economic & communications ministry has decided to delay start of passenger train service to Koidula station,as in this year they don't have financial resources planned for it.
Problem lies in Edelaraudtee,who is requesting additional 58'000 euros of government funding (yearly,I presume) for extending their Tartu-Orava line until Koidula. Train service might start in next summer,if things work out.

Source: http://www.e24.ee/?id=461886

Tin_Can

June 11th, 2011, 07:02 PM

The train-of-ideas is arriving to Riga and Tallinn very soon.
http://www.train-of-ideas.net/

Oh,the bittersweet irony! :| 'Train Of Ideas' has reached Tallinn and train has been reduced to an idea...

'Train Of Ideas' is rolling railway based exhibition promoting eco-friendly visions & Hamburg's year as European Green Capital 2011. Btw,European Green Capital idea was created here,in Tallinn by old mayor Jüri Ratas. So idea has basically made a full circle! :D Anyway,back to train - in civilized half of Europe it was hauled by Siemens Vectron electric locomotive in special 'Train Of Ideas' livery,but obviously it didn't make it here (thanks to unelectrified railways & 1520mm gauge tracks)

Here's how it looked in Copenhagen:
http://www.go-green.ae/uploads/Image2_Train_of_Ideas_European_Green_Capital_jpg.jpg

Train's website: http://www.train-of-ideas.net/en/stations/

Obvious location for enjoying the exhibition would be central train station,right? Wrong! Apparently,they unloaded exhibition containers and instead of central train station exhibition is set up on anonymous parking lot in harbour,next to Linnahall.

With bit of imagination you can see train here... :( *sigh*
http://i53.tinypic.com/jk7x5j.jpg

'Train Of Ideas' will be opened tomorrow and is here until 14th June,so everybody can check it out. Thankfully exhibition itself isn't so disappointing and looks to be worth checking out.

Rebasepoiss

June 11th, 2011, 07:30 PM

^^ Why didn't they just load the containers onto another train in Lithuania?

Tin_Can

June 11th, 2011, 07:58 PM

^^
Actually in Riga (previous stop) they were on container wagons and exhibition was held central train station. You can see it on link Janis gave:
http://www.diena.lv/diena-tv/dzive/video-ideju-vilciens-no-hamburgas-piestaj-riga-13887457
Containers on platforms. Will be pulled by same engines as other trains.

Imho,this event is wasted opportunity for Tallinn city to revitalize our central train station & atleast briefly turn it into living part of the city. Let's face it - right now Balti jaam is VERY hostile place & distant from normal urban environment,largely thanks to mismanagement & poor planning.

Tin_Can

June 13th, 2011, 09:03 PM

C30

June 13th, 2011, 11:42 PM

As for the platforms, it should be easy to integrate at least some kind of wall structure into the shelter, as seen in this (http://www.jarnvag.net/images/bild/veckansbild/Lund100807.jpg) Swedish picture.

It is also possible to just put something bus-stop-like under the main shelter. (Sweden again (http://jvgfoto.se/f/10694p.jpg))

Maybe I shouldn't whine for so long about the matter, but I feel that the concept chosen here is just not so good. Moreover, it is slightly boring to have a single design for almost all stations in the country. Regional variations would be nice.

Tin_Can

June 14th, 2011, 10:18 PM

http://www.leonhard-weiss.ee/_images/global/logo-rte.jpg

This hasn't been officially announced yet,but it seems that Leonhard Weiss RTE will build new train station platforms in Tallinn. Stations which will face reconstruction - central train station,Tondi,Järve,Rahumäe,Nõmme,Hiiu,Kivimäe,Pääsküla and Laagri (hmm,where's Lilleküla? :dunno:)

This is part of ongoing plans to rebuild train station platforms to European standard height of 550mm. Reconstruction of trains station platforms will be completed before 2013,when first Stadler Flirt trains arrive in Estonia.

It has been officially confirmed now. Leonhard Weiss RTE will rebuild previously named stations for 5,8 million euros.

According to EVR spokesman Urmas Glase,works will presumably take place during next year's 'warm period'.

Source: http://www.e24.ee/470324/balti-jaama-perroonid-viib-eurokorgusele-leonhard-weiss/

Tin_Can

June 15th, 2011, 01:48 PM

It is also possible to just put something bus-stop-like under the main shelter. (Sweden again (http://jvgfoto.se/f/10694p.jpg))

Maybe I shouldn't whine for so long about the matter, but I feel that the concept chosen here is just not so good. Moreover, it is slightly boring to have a single design for almost all stations in the country. Regional variations would be nice.

You should keep in mind that 90% or even more of those stations didn't had any shelters or roofs before and people managed still managed to survive while waiting trains. And besides,it has been said several times that train schedules will be reorganized when new trains arrive - more trains will run more often.
Hopefully in the future it will be enough if you get to station 5 minutes before train arrival. No one has to get to stations hours before train arrival,when trains arrive in time (a rare thing right now thanks to all those railway repairs etc.)

I would be concerned over platform lengths - long platforms are okay,but short ones for 'one wagon entry' are just ridiculous. Kitseküla station in Tallinn is the worst example,but some rural short platform stations are equally bad. When lots of people have to wait to get on a train because it can only open few doors thanks to short platforms,it results lots of wasted time as train has to wait longer in such stations,not to mention all that discomfort & confusion it creates for passengers (very 'nice' to find out that you are in wrong wagon when you want to get out on short platform station)

Tbh,things might change with that Kitseküla station (and Urda & Padula stations),as Elektriraudtee has said (comment made on 3rd June (http://www.facebook.com/notes/elektriraudtee/elektriraudtee-areaalis-olevate-ooteplatvormide-renoveerimistähtajad/221555284540458)) that those stations will be given to EVR Infra who might rebuilt them to fit overall design of other stations. Hopefully this also means longer station platforms.

Tin_Can

June 16th, 2011, 07:34 PM

I happened to read article about new Plasser & Theurer EM140 track measurement car bought by Lithuanians (that article (http://www.ekonomika.lt/naujiena/lietuvos-gelezinkeliai-pristate-kelio-kontroles-masina-em140-9196.html)) and I wonder why Eesti Raudtee is still renting track measurement wagon from Latvijas Dzelzcelš.

Few photos of it in Tallinn:
http://i56.tinypic.com/x43lo3.jpg

http://i56.tinypic.com/hu4knt.jpg

http://i56.tinypic.com/148q7io.jpg

Afaik,they have been renting it for ages and quick check on EVR website reveals that they pay ~120000 euros for using it (I presume that it's yearly rental fee and doesn't include running costs) At the same time Lithuanians paid 3,5 million euros for their EM140 (total cost was 23,5 million euros,but EU paid 85% of it's cost) I know that such equipment isn't bought every year and has very long service life,so in long term perspective,wouldn't it make sense for EVR to buy their own track measuring car?

Burtinsh

June 17th, 2011, 01:15 PM

^^ The testing period begins on 21 December 2012 so only 10 days before the last deadline for finishing the low platforms.

Those trains look sexy. But are you sure about the date? It's the end of the world then :D Weird that trains begin testing in day like that.

Tin_Can

June 18th, 2011, 05:20 PM

Photo update of railway reconstruction works in Tallinn,between central train station and Ülemiste station. On this weekend they are replacing tracks on Veerenni street crossing (it will be reopened in 20th June)

New tracks in Kitseküla station.
http://i51.tinypic.com/8wl5xs.jpg

Veerenni street crossing.
http://i56.tinypic.com/xoh8r5.jpg

http://i53.tinypic.com/2agpwg.jpg

All tracks have been replaced East of Veerenni street crossing.
http://i52.tinypic.com/2lc1jeg.jpg

Rebasepoiss

June 18th, 2011, 06:55 PM

^^ Nice! :) Balti Jaam - Ülemiste section was pretty crappy before.

Here's a photo of the Lagedi pedestrian tunnel construction: http://gallery.balticrailpics.net/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=-94&pos=0

Tin_Can

June 25th, 2011, 03:06 PM

Tin_Can

June 28th, 2011, 08:59 AM

Here's a brief overview of newly rebuilt station with 550mm platform (around 90 stations will be rebuilt,although that number is increasing) Those new stations come in two variations - with short or long platform (-s) Short platforms are meant for one wagon entry-only. All stations have similar style roofs,lights,signs etc,which you can see here. Main variation comes from different replacement of all those structures on platforms & width of station platforms (some are narrowed than others). Btw,tracks,track switches & sidings located on station territory are usually replaced along with station reconstruction.

Riisipere station in Harju county.

Plaform base is made of concrete.
http://i53.tinypic.com/vsnkw6.jpg

Lampposts. Btw,lower end of those is has place for sitting.
http://i53.tinypic.com/3518xur.jpg

Curved roof is almost as wide as platform. In some places those roofs have been fitted with additional glass screens,this provides slightly more shelter for people. You can see that edges of platforms have safety stripes & rough,granite covered edges (some stations have special stones fitted for guiding blind people)
http://i52.tinypic.com/33tgn6p.jpg

Station names are attached to platform roofs.
http://i54.tinypic.com/20ariiq.jpg

All stations have Eesti Raudte logos on platform roof pillars.
http://i51.tinypic.com/wsureg.jpg

Structures & 'furniture' on station platforms is made of steel. Seating places under roofs & lampposts are covered with layer of rubber,seen here.
http://i52.tinypic.com/eilgmq.jpg

Currently platforms are rather uncomfortable,as RVR trains were meant for lot higher platforms,but in the future those will provide comfortable same level entry to new passenger trains.
http://i52.tinypic.com/2qdmpkx.jpg

http://i51.tinypic.com/2z6e68p.jpg

Platforms were designed by architecture bureau Luhse & Tuhal.

Rebasepoiss

June 28th, 2011, 11:49 AM

AFAIK, all platforms should get those protective glass screens in the end.

A quote from Elektriraudtee's Facebook page:
Valga peatuse ooteplatvormid on sellised, mis peaksid lõpuks igale poole valmima.

xkala1x

June 28th, 2011, 07:19 PM

C30 vedurid on maha kantud(neile on otsitud ostjaid isegi Egiptusest ja Gruusiast)

Tin_Can

June 28th, 2011, 07:32 PM

C30 vedurid on maha kantud(neile on otsitud ostjaid isegi Egiptusest ja Gruusiast)

Ilmselt midagi taolist oligi oodata,kuna C30'd seisid reservis juba päris mitu aastat. Hea oleks kui Eesti Raudtee saaks vähemalt mingit kasumit nendest - kas müües või vanarauaks tehes.

Tin_Can

June 30th, 2011, 08:04 PM

EVR Cargo announced today that until the end of September they plan to give 20% discounts for private freight wagons used on EVR infrastructure,as long as they are used for Estonian exports & transit exports.
Decision was caused by serious shortage of freight wagons owned by EVR Cargo. Right now EVR has about 3000 freight wagons.

EVR Cargo has bought 125 flatcars in 2009; 50 flatcars & 25 cement hopper cars in 2010 and plans to continue upgrading it's rolling stock by purchasing ~50 freight wagons/yearly.

Source: http://www.logistikauudised.ee/article/2011/6/30/evr-cargo-annab-eksportijatele-ja-transiitvedudele-veotariifi-soodustust-20

Tin_Can

July 5th, 2011, 04:27 PM

Edelaraudtee: more people travel by trains,despite ongoing railway repairs.

Edleraudtee announced that in June they had 1,8% more passengers than in May. Comparing first 6 months of this year (877884 passengers in January-June 2011) to 2010,Edelaraudtee served 2,5% more passengers.

Top lines by passenger numbers (January-June 2011):
Talinn-Türi-Viljandi - 308000 passengers
Tallinn-Tartu-Valga - 283000 passengers
Tallinna-Rapla - 92000 passengers

Source: http://www.logistikauudised.ee/article/2011/7/5/edelaraudtee-ebamugavuse-kiuste-reisitakse-rongiga-uha-enam-1

Tin_Can

July 6th, 2011, 09:15 PM

Major track repairs will start on 12th July in Tallinn's central train station.

EVR infra has announced that on 12th July reconstruction works will start in Tallinn's central train station (Balti jaam/Baltic station) EVR Infra is going reconstruct 5,2km of tracks,replace 23 track switches and change track geometry in central train station. All tracks in station will be welded,reducing noise created by trains. For faster & smoother train service some tracks & overhead lines will be moved to new locations and sharp curves will be rebuilt.

This puts even more pressure on passenger train service,as it results loss of time,even more inaccurate schedules and in some cases (Elektriraudtee) redirected routes. For example,during the reconstruction Tallinn-Keila electric express trains will only operate between Nõmme station in Southern Tallinn and Keila. Tallinn-Keila train service between Nõmme & central train station will be replaced with buses.

Sources: http://www.logistikauudised.ee/article/2011/7/6/raudteeremont-balti-jaamas-loob-rongiliiklust
http://www.elektriraudtee.ee/ettevottest/uudised/194-taehelepanu-muudatused-tallinn-keila-tallinn-kiirrongide-soidugraafikutes-alates-12072011

Rebasepoiss

July 7th, 2011, 05:58 PM

^^ That's a huge blow for Elektriraudtee...

Tin_Can

July 7th, 2011, 09:17 PM

Photo update of Ülemiste station platforms reconstruction works. Even though works started bit over a week ago,fairly good progress has been made.

Click on the photo for larger view.
http://i52.tinypic.com/2vb4gvr.jpg (http://i53.tinypic.com/afhsm0.jpg)

Click on the photo for larger view.
http://i52.tinypic.com/21dpt0h.jpg (http://i54.tinypic.com/n2ftrs.jpg)

http://i53.tinypic.com/5a1ic4.jpg

Although new 550mm high platforms are built on their old locations,then in Ülemiste case it would make sense to move one platform (on railway leaving the city) closer to pedestrian bridge and connecting platform to bridge with stairs. This would allow getting rid of that dangerous railway crossing in Ülemiste station (even though pedestrian tunnel is planned there)

Tin_Can

July 11th, 2011, 05:27 PM

Estonia-Kazakhstan container train starts operating in second half of 2011.

Officials from both countries agreed that container train starts operating in this year. Kazakhstan has been one of the fastest growing trade partners with Estonia and is eager to use services of Estonian ports.
Estonia is planning to participating in Kazakhstan's business forum in China,where it will be discussed option of extending container trains service to Western China (future container train service might be this: Estonia-Kazakhstan-China)

Source: http://www.logistikauudised.ee/article/2011/7/11/eesti-ja-kasahstani-vahel-hakkab-soitma-konteinerrong

________________________________

Railway platforms reconstruction continues after currently planned ones are rebuilt?

An interesting quote by EVR spokesperson:
Ooteplatvormid Rakvere, Kabala, Kadrina ja Vaeküla jaamas jäävad praegu uuendamata. “Neid platvorme antud projekti raames ümber ei ehitata, kuna projektiraha selleks ei jätku. Nimetatud neli platvormi on esitatud järgmise Euroopa Liidu rahastamisperioodi taotlusesse ja nende ümberehitamine tuleb kõne alla positiivsete otsuste korral peale 2013. aastat,” ütles Urmas Glase.

Translation: Station platforms in Rakvere,Kabala,Kadrina & Vaeküla won't be refurbished right now. "Those platforms won't be rebuilt as part of current project,as there isn't enough money to do that. Request for those four platforms have been submitted to next EU funding period application and reconstruction of them is possible after 2013",said Urmas Glase.

From this article: http://www.virumaateataja.ee/494542/raudtee-ooteplatvormid-ehitatakse-umber/

I guess it won't be very problematic,as Stadler diesel trains (those stations are not electrified) start arriving a lot later. I wonder it EVR is going to start another reconstruction project soon for all Eastern Estonian stations platforms?

Rebasepoiss

July 11th, 2011, 07:15 PM

^^ It won't be a problem since these stations have platforms lower than 550mm. A higher platform would be problematic.

BTW, the first new DMU enters service in August 2013 and the last one in June 2014.

ilyan

July 12th, 2011, 09:18 AM

What about C30 in Estonia? Are they stil in operation or were withdrawn and scrapped? How many 2TE116 in service in Estonia?

xkala1x

July 12th, 2011, 03:08 PM

C30 are withdrawn but not scrapped(conservated @Kopli station)

Tin_Can

July 12th, 2011, 03:56 PM

What about C30 in Estonia? Are they stil in operation or were withdrawn and scrapped? How many 2TE116 in service in Estonia?

About year ago there were 4 2TE116's in Eesti Raudtee service and few in reserve. As said on Rail Baltica thread (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=80464698&postcount=1987),some have been sold to Latvian LDz and various private operators (I'm not sure if those 2TE116's were 'active' locomotives or from reserve),so current number is probably smaller.

Btw,2TE116's should be the newest locomotives used by EVR :D They bought 2 new 2TE116 locomotive's in 2005-2006.

Tin_Can

July 12th, 2011, 06:35 PM

Photos of track repairs in Tallinn's central train station (source - Postimees.ee)

http://f.postimees.ee/f/2011/07/12/667790t44h8637.jpg

http://f.postimees.ee/f/2011/07/12/667788t44h55cd.jpg

http://f.postimees.ee/f/2011/07/12/667794t44hbc17.jpg

Source: http://www.tallinnapostimees.ee/496342/balti-jaamas-algas-raudtee-uuendamine/

You can see that railway ties were in really bad condition (probably dating back to last major reconstruction in 1970s)

Rebasepoiss

July 12th, 2011, 07:59 PM

I wonder how many minutes does it cut off from the timetable when all the tracks and switches are replaced...

But wait...they will replace the sleepers and rails this year....and raise the tracks next year?

Ebajalg

July 12th, 2011, 09:23 PM

IMO they should blow up Balti Jaam and the surrounding and start building from the scratch.

Rebasepoiss

July 12th, 2011, 10:32 PM

I believe that if you got rid of the market and the shabby stores inside the station building, the area would automatically clear off. Now throw in a glass cover over the platforms and you get a pretty decent station.

Tin_Can

July 12th, 2011, 10:36 PM

^^
Eastern side of central train station is perfect example of it. After they built EVR building there,demolished old warehouses & cleaned everything up,entire area got new life.I wonder how many minutes does it cut off from the timetable when all the tracks and switches are replaced...

But wait...they will replace the sleepers and rails this year....and raise the tracks next year?

Yeah,it doesn't make much sense to split the works into two parts which both cripple central train station work. I'm not familiar with railway construction techniques,but maybe it means that they build tracks this year and in next year they raise them by 'injecting' gravel underneath it? (is that possible? :dunno:)

All those reconstruction does give considerable time saving though :) Just think of it - right now all passenger trains start slowing down at Paldiski mnt. railway bridge and crawl slowly into the station.

Tin_Can

July 19th, 2011, 02:53 AM

Photo update of track repairs in Tallinn's central train station. 8th & 9th tracks have been dismantled and new gravel base for new tracks has been laid between station platforms.

Btw,check out the miserable state of central train station platforms - next year's platforms reconstruction is really desperately needed.

http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/Raudhunt/IMG_9452_pano.jpg

http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/Raudhunt/IMG_9458_pano.jpg

http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/Raudhunt/IMG_9460.jpg

http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/Raudhunt/IMG_9463_pano.jpg

http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/Raudhunt/IMG_9513_pano.jpg

http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/Raudhunt/IMG_9499_pano.jpg

Tin_Can

July 22nd, 2011, 11:37 PM

Photo update of track repairs in Tallinn's central train station. (taken yesterday evening) New tracks have been laid on 8th & 9th tracks. Looks like they used some refurbished tracks :-/ I guess it won't matter much,as long as they will grind the tracks and weld them together.

http://i53.tinypic.com/71s11j.jpg

http://i51.tinypic.com/r10nz4.jpg

http://i56.tinypic.com/eaipzo.jpg

http://i51.tinypic.com/2akrc7.jpg

+ bonus pic of ER electric trains.
http://i51.tinypic.com/4jrhuo.jpg

Tin_Can

July 27th, 2011, 08:17 AM

Photo update of Ülemiste station platforms reconstruction works.

http://i53.tinypic.com/5lyt1i.jpg

http://i51.tinypic.com/245egyb.jpg

http://i56.tinypic.com/sazddg.jpg

http://i52.tinypic.com/27xp550.jpg

I don't get it,what's the point of making the station platform so narrow? It doesn't make any sense. Just imagine how crowded it get's during rush hour when there are people waiting in station with baby carriages,bicycles etc. :ohno:

pzlotnik

July 27th, 2011, 10:54 AM

Very nice sheds mounted on the platforms.

Tin_Can

July 28th, 2011, 11:11 PM

Elektriraudtee has served 1,43 million passengers within first six months of 2011. Comparing to same period of 2010,passenger numbers have fallen by 4%

Decrease is caused by extensive railway repairs,which (partially) end in this autumn.

Tin_Can

July 30th, 2011, 12:20 AM

Worth being reposted here as well:

A few photos of the brand new Koidula border station:

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/8876/img7683m.jpg

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/8064/img7684p.jpg

The passenger platforms which are not yet in use. Local passenger trains will start running to Koidula station in September. There's also a possibility that Riga - St.Petersburg train will start using this station in the future since the route through Estonia is shorter than the current one.
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/3688/img7687s.jpg

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/3932/img7689s.jpg

The station building.
http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/8996/img7692l.jpg

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/3489/img7693j.jpg

Nice! I was just looking for Koidula station photos,but almost all of them were old,taken during construction.

Btw,on Monday (1st August) station starts it's fulfilling it's job as real border station - customs & border crossing paperworks can be done in Koidula now. Before it was done in city of Tartu and this resulted dangerous situations,where trains waiting for border crossing were stopping in the middle of Tartu. Entire station should be completed by September,when x-ray system is fully functional.

Bit more information:
Koidula station is mainly meant for Estonian-Russian freight traffic,but can (and will) also serve passenger trains.
Length of tracks on station territory: 25+ km.
Length of asphalt access roads for cars: 6km
There are 10 tracks in station.
Station size ~100ha.
Can service 40+ freight trains/24h.

pets

August 3rd, 2011, 12:23 AM

wooow.... that renovated koidula station looks soo good and high-quality ))

Tin_Can

August 3rd, 2011, 06:33 PM

Railway repairs in Nõmme station in Tallinn.

Railway repairs are going on from 3rd to 5th August,on each night (poor locals! :D) One main railway line and three track switches will be replaced.

Anyway,it's good to see that repair works are also planned for South-Western direction. Maybe,some day in very distant future EVR Infra actually manages to rebuild ridiculously bad section between Laagri & Hiiu stations. It's unbelievable how slowly trains move there. Probably one of the worst places in Tallinn at the moment. :ohno:

Rebasepoiss

August 3rd, 2011, 06:42 PM

^^ Unfortunately the maximum speed for trains between Balti Jaam and Pääsküla is 60km/h, irrespective of the condition of the railways. I believe this is due to the large number of stations, pedestrian crossings and the closeness of residential buildings.

Tin_Can

August 3rd, 2011, 06:55 PM

^^
I hope this will be changed in the future,when more pedestrian tunnels,railway bridges and fences for sheep..err..people are built. After all,from what I've heard from old-timers,Pääsküla area used to be a place where electric trains could hit 100+km/h. Kind of unbelievable,considering current track condition.

xkala1x

August 5th, 2011, 02:59 PM

Pakkumuse esitamise ettepanek

Lihtsustatud hankemenetlus

1. Hanke nimetus: „Tallinn-Tartu-Riia ja Tallinn-Peterburi rongiliikluse avamise tasuvusanalüüs” (riigihanke objekti kood 71241000-9)

2. Hankelepingu eseme kirjeldus:
Rahvusvaheliste transpordiühenduste arendamist peetakse üheks valdkonnaks, millele tuleks tähelepanu pöörata, et parandada Eesti konkurentsivõimet. Regulaarne rongiühendus võiks seda eesmärki täita eelkõige Peterburi ja Riia suunal.

Sellest tulenevalt tellitakse töö, mis peab andma vastused küsimustele, millised oleks Tallinn-Tartu-Riia ja Tallinn-Peterburi liinidel rongiühenduse käivitamise otsesed kulud ja tulud ning millises ulatuses vajaks liinide käigushoidmine riigi tuge. Täpsemalt on töö teostaja ülesanne:
• anda ülevaade raudteeinfrastruktuuri praegusest olukorrast ja plaanitavatest arengutest;
• anda ülevaade praegusest rahvusvaheliste reisijate mahust Riia ja Peterburi suunal ning prognoosida reisijanõudluse muutus tulevikus;
• tuua välja mõlema liini potentsiaalne sõiduaeg, arvestades infrastruktuuri arenguid aastaks 2015 (nt 120 km/h Eestis kogu trassi ulatuses).
• teha ettepanekud, arvestades olemasolevat nõudlust ja potentsiaalseid sõiduaegasid, rongide ringluseks;
• prognoosida kummagi potentsiaalse rongiliini kasutajate arv;
• anda ülevaade potentsiaalselt kasutatava veeremi võimalikest tüüpidest ja anda soovitusi sobivaima veeremi tüübi ja mahu osas ning hinnata selle maksumus;
• viia läbi eraldi Tallinn-Riia, Tallinn-Peterburi ja mõlema rongiliini käikuandmise finantsanalüüs ning tuua välja dotatsioonivajadus aastateks 2015-2030.

3. Hanke eeldatav maksumus: orienteeruvalt 15 000 eurot (käibemaksuta)

Eeldatava maksumuse leidmise meetodi kirjeldus:
Eeldatav maksumus on leitud, arvestades varasemat kogemust sarnaste tööde tellimisel.

Hankija jätab endale õiguse lükata tagasi kõik pakkumused, mis ületavad tema rahalisi võimalusi.

3.1. Kas hankeleping on seotud projekti/programmiga, mida rahastatakse EL vahenditest?
Ei

3.2. Kas hankeleping rahastatakse struktuuritoetustest?
Ei

4. Hankelepingu maksumuse korral üle 20 000 eurot asjad või teenused ja 130 000 eurot ehitustööde puhul teate MKM veebilehele esitamise kuupäev:
-

5. Pakkumusi küsitakse:

a) Tallinna Tehnikaülikool
b) Rakendusuuringute Keskus CentAR OÜ
c) Anseri-Konsultit OY
d) Ernst & Young Baltic AS

6. Pakkuja kvalifitseerimise nõuded ja nõutavad dokumendid:

6.1. Pakkuja peab olema registreeritud tema asukohamaa äriregistris.

6.2. Pakkuja peab olema täitnud kõik kohustused riiklike maksude ja kohalike maksude tasumise osas.
Hankija kontrollib nimetatud kohustuste täitmist pakkumuse esitamise ettepaneku esitamise kuupäeva seisuga, eduka pakkumuse esitajal ka vahetult enne lepingu sõlmimist.

6.3. Pakkuja või kaasatavad eksperdid peavad omama vajalikku kogemust ja kompetentsi:
- andmaks hinnanguid ning soovitusi reisirongiveeremi ja nende opereerimise osas;
- hindamaks veeremi ja selle opereerimisega seonduvate kulude suurust;
- viimaks läbi finantsmajanduslikku analüüsi.
Igas nimetatud valdkonnas peab pakkujal või ekspertidel olema viimase viie aasta jooksul teostatud vähemalt üks sarnane töö (sama töö võib katta ka mitut valdkonda).

6.4. Pakkumuses esitab pakkuja
- kasutatava metoodika kirjelduse;
- töö eri etappide teostamise ajakava;
- ülevaate pakkuja eelnevast kogemusest (viimasel viiel aastal tehtud töödest) reisirongiveeremi, nende opereerimise ja seonduvate kulude ning finantsanalüüsi läbiviimise osas;
- kaasatavate ekspertide CV-d;
- detailse pakkumuse maksumuse tehtavate tööde kaupa.

6.5. Variantpakkumiste esitamine: Ei

7. Hindamiskriteeriumid, nende osakaal:

1. Pakkumuse maksumus – 50 %
Pakkumuste maksumuse alusel väärtuspunktide määramisel saab maksimaalsed 50 väärtuspunkti kõige madalama maksumusega pakkumus. Teised saavad 50st võimalikust punktist proportsionaalselt vähem punkte, mille võrra on nende pakkumuse maksumus suurem vastavast arvust kõige väiksemast maksumusest (“väärtuspunktid” =50 x “kõige väiksem pakutud maksumus” / “pakutud maksumus”).

2. Pakkuja ja ekspertide eelnev kogemus reisirongiliiklusega seotud tööde teostamise osas – 15 %.
Hankija hindab pakkuja ja ekspertide viimase viie aasta kogemuse ulatust ja asjakohasust reisirongiliikluse osas. Hankekomisjoni liikmed annavad pakkumustele hindepunkte ühest kümneni, mille alusel kujunevad eelneva kogemuse alusel saadavad väärtuspunktid. Maksimaalsed 15 väärtuspunkti saab hankekomisjoni liikmetelt enim hindepunkte saanud pakkumus. Teised saavad maksimaalsest 15st võimalikust väärtuspunktist proportsionaalselt vähem punkte, mille võrra on nende saadud hindepunktide arv väiksem enim hindepunkte saanud pakkumusest
(“väärtuspunktid” = 15 x “hinnatava pakkumuse hindepunktide arv” / “enim hindepunkte saanud pakkumuse hindepunktide arv”).

3. Pakkuja ja ekspertide eelnev kogemus tasuvusanalüüside läbiviimise osas – 10 %
Hankija hindab pakkuja ja ekspertide viimase viie aasta kogemuse ulatust ja asjakohasust tasuvusanalüüside osas. Hankekomisjoni liikmed annavad pakkumustele hindepunkte ühest kümneni, mille alusel kujunevad eelneva kogemuse alusel saadavad väärtuspunktid. Maksimaalsed 10 väärtuspunkti saab hankekomisjoni liikmetelt enim hindepunkte saanud pakkumus. Teised saavad maksimaalsest 10st võimalikust väärtuspunktist proportsionaalselt vähem punkte, mille võrra on nende saadud hindepunktide arv väiksem enim hindepunkte saanud pakkumusest
(“väärtuspunktid” = 10 x “hinnatava pakkumuse hindepunktide arv” / “enim hindepunkte saanud pakkumuse hindepunktide arv”).

4. Pakkuja väljapakutud metoodika töö teostamiseks – 25 %.

Pakkuja välja pakutud metoodika osas hinnatakse selle sobivust lähteülesandes toodud uurimisülesannete täitmiseks. Hankekomisjoni liikmed annavad hindepunkte ühest kümneni, mille alusel kujunevad metoodika alusel saadavad väärtuspunktid. Maksimaalsed 25 väärtuspunkti saab hankekomisjoni liikmetelt enim hindepunkte saanud pakkumus. Teised saavad maksimaalsest 25st võimalikust väärtuspunktist proportsionaalselt vähem punkte, mille võrra on nende saadud hindepunktide arv väiksem enim hindepunkte saanud pakkumusest
(“väärtuspunktid” = 25 x “hinnatava pakkumuse hindepunktide arv” / “enim hindepunkte saanud pakkumuse hindepunktide arv”).

Edukaks tunnistatakse nelja kriteeriumi summana enim väärtuspunkte teeninud pakkuja.

8. Pakkumuse esitamise tähtaeg on 29. august 2011, kell 12.00

9. Vastutav isik antud hanke osas: Toomas Haidak, transpordi arengu talituse juhataja

Ronnie Kongo

Kuupäev 27.07.2011

xkala1x

August 5th, 2011, 03:02 PM

LÄHTEÜLESANNE

TALLINN-TARTU-RIIA JA TALLINN-PETERBURI RONGILIIKLUSE AVAMISE TASUVUSANALÜÜS
1. Töö eesmärk
Rahvusvaheliste transpordiühenduste arendamist peetakse üheks olulisemaks valdkonnaks, kuhu tuleks lähiajal panustada, et parandada Eesti konkurentsivõimet. Eelkõige tuuakse Eesti ligipääsetavuse osas kitsaskohana esile väheseid lennuühendusi, ent lühemate vahemaade (300-500 km) puhul on ootustele vastavat transpordiühendust võimalik tihti paremini pakkuda raudteeliikluse näol. Eesti lähiregioonis asuvatest linnadest sobivad rongiühenduse arendamiseks eelkõige Riia ja Peterburi, kuhu võiks olla piisavalt nõudlust.

Praegu läbib Eestit sisuliselt üks rahvusvaheline rongiliin – Tallinn-Moskva (ühendus on ka Valgast Riiga). Tallinna ja Riia ning Tallinna ja Peterburi vahelisest ühendusest moodustab valdava osa maanteeliiklus, autoliikluse kõrval eksisteerib sagedane ja kasvav bussiliiklus. Tallinn-Peterburi rongliin oli viimati käigus 2008. aastal, Riia suunal ei ole rongiühendust enam üle kümne aasta. Pikalt oli üheks olulisemaks probleemiks infrastruktuuri halb seisukord, mis ei võimaldanud pakkuda konkurentsivõimelist sõiduaega, mistõttu eelistasid reisijad teisi transpordiliike. Praeguseks on olukord aga märkimisväärselt paranenud, seda eriti Eestis, kus nii Tallinn-Tartu-Valga kui ka Tallinn-Narva raudteetrassil saab suuremas osas sõita kiirusega 120 km/h. Koos majanduse liikumisega tõusufaasi on tekkinud soodne olukord nende rongiliinide taasavamiseks.

Hetkel ei ole siiski näha, et ükski ettevõtja oleks valmis võtma riske, mida rongiliikluse taasavamine endas kätkeb. Seega oleme olukorras, kus ühendused Peterburi ja/või Riia suunal, mis oma kvaliteedilt vastaks Eesti elanike, siia tulla soovivate turistide ning ka ärireisijate ootustele, vajavad (vähemalt) lähitulevikus riigi toetust kas algse investeeringu tegemiseks (veeremi soetamiseks) või opereerimiskulude katmiseks.
Eelnevast tulenevalt on töö eesmärgiks teha arvutused, millised oleks Tallinn-Tartu-Riia ja Tallinn-Peterburi liinidel rongiühenduse käivitamise otsesed kulud ja tulud ning millises ulatuses vajaks liinide käigushoidmine riigi tuge.
2. Töö teostaja ülesanded

Ülesanne 1
Anda ülevaade raudteetaristu praegusest olukorrast Valga-Riia ja Narva-Peterburi raudteetrassidel: trassi olukord, läbiviidud remont- ja rekonstrueerimistööd, kehtestatud piirkiirused, läbilaskevõime ja selle kasutus jms.
Anda ülevaade Tallinn-Tartu-Riia ja Tallinn-Peterburi raudteetrasside infrastruktuuri lähema viie aasta remondi- ja rekonstrueerimisvajadusest ning kavandatavatest arengutest.
Ülesanne 2
Anda ülevaade praegusest rahvusvaheliste reisijate mahust Tallinna, Tartu ja Riia ning Tallinna ja Peterburi vahel, tuues eraldi välja bussi, lennuki ja autoga reisijad.
Reisijate arvud tuleb hinnata suuremate piirkondade kaupa, kus võiksid rongiühenduse avamise korral asuda potentsiaalsed olulisemad peatused – Tallinn-Riia puhul nt Tallinn, Tapa (ümberistumisjaam Rakvere ja Ida-Virumaa jaoks), Tartu, Valga, Valmiera, Riia ning Tallinn-Peterburi puhul nt Tallinn, Tapa (ümberistumisjaam Tartu ja Lõuna-Eesti jaoks), Rakvere, Jõhvi, Narva, Peterburi.

Prognoosida reisijanõudluse muutus kuni aastani 2030, arvestades eri transpordiliikide nõudlust mõjutavaid tegureid (nt sissetulekud), muutusi rahvastikus ja majandusarengut.
Ülesanne 3
Tuua välja mõlema liini potentsiaalne sõiduaeg, arvestades infrastruktuuri arenguid aastaks 2015 (nt 120 km/h Eestis kogu trassi ulatuses). Sõltuvalt nõudlusest tuleb välja valida jaamad, kus oleks otstarbekas peatuda.
Näidata ära ajavõit, mis oleks võimalik saavutada, kui piirkiiruse 120 km/h asemel kehtestatakse lõiguti (Tallinn-Tapa, Tapa-Tartu, Tartu-Valga, Valga-Valmiera, Valmiera-Riia) piirkiirus 160 km/h. Samuti anda hinnang ajakulule, mille tooks kaasa väiksemates jaamades (nt Jõgeva, Elva, Sigulda) peatumine eri piirkiiruste (120 km/h ja 160 km/h) korral.

Ülesanne 4
Teha ettepanekud, arvestades olemasolevat nõudlust ja potentsiaalseid sõiduaegasid, rongide ringluseks, kui teenindatakse ainult Tallinn-Riia liini, ainult Tallinn-Peterburi liini või mõlemat liini.
Tuua välja vajadus ja võimalused sõiduplaanide integreerimsieks kohalike rongiliinidega (nt ettevedu Tapale, Valka vms). Tuua välja peatused, kus oleks otstarbekas peatuda, pidades silmas konkureerivate transpordiliikide (eelkõige buss) sõiduaega.
Ülesanne 5
Prognoosida kummagi potentsiaalse rongiliini kasutajate arv aastatel 2015-2030 olulisemate lõikude kaupa, võttes arvesse nõudluse prognoosi (ülesanne 2), sõiduaega (2015), välja pakutud ringlust, piletitariifi jms. Piletitariifi valikul analüüsida, milline oleks optimaalne tariif, mis maksimeeriks piletitulu.

Tuua välja, kui palju potentsiaalsetest kasutajatest „tuleks üle“ konkureerivatelt transpordiliikidelt – eraldi lennukilt, bussilt ja autolt – ning kui suure osa moodustaks täiendava transpordivõimaluse tekitatud nõudlus.
Ülesanne 6
Anda ülevaade potentsiaalselt kasutatava veeremi võimalikest tüüpidest: diiselveerem, hübriidveerem (elekter ja diisel); multiple unit, eraldi vedur ja vagunid, eraldi vedur ja vagunid koos juhtvaguniga jne. Anda soovitusi, milline veerem võiks olla kõige otstarbekam Tallinn-Riia ja Tallinn-Peterburi liinidel opereerimiseks.

Anda soovitused, milline peaks olema veeremipargi maht – rongide arv ja mahutavus. Samuti, milline on vajalik koosseisude arv, kui teenindatakse ainult Tallinn-Riia liini, ainult Tallinn-Peterburi liini või mõlemat liini. Välja tuua eri veeremitüüpide hinnanguline soetusmaksumus.
Anda soovitusi rongide mugavusastme kohta (millised peaksid olema reisijaklassid, istmete parameetrid ja paigutus, lisateenused jms). Võrrelda sarnaseid käigusolevaid rongiliine ja nendel kasutatava veeremi mugavusnäitajaid ja pakutavaid teenuseid.
Ülesanne 7
Viia läbi eraldi Tallinn-Riia, Tallinn-Peterburi ja mõlema rongiliini käikuandmise finantsanalüüs ning tuua välja dotatsioonivajadus aastateks 2015-2030.
Finantsanalüüsis peavad kajastuma kulud, mis on seotud rongiliinide käivitamise ja käigushoidmisega, s.h tuleb eraldi välja tuua investeerimiskulud, mis on vajalikud eri liinide käivitamise korral, ning opereerimiskulud olulisemate kululiikide kaupa.
Tasuvusanalüüsis peavad kajastuma tulud, mis teenitakse otseselt liinide opereerimisest, tuues eraldi välja piletitulu ning potentsiaalsed muud tulud.

3. Töö teostamise nõuded
Töö teostatakse vastavalt pakkuja esitatud metoodikale 3 (kolme) kuu möödudes alates lepingu allakirjutamisest.
Töö teostamisse tuleb kaasata vähemalt üks reisijateveoekspert, kes omab vajalikku kogemust ja kompetentsi:
- andmaks hinnanguid ning soovitusi reisirongiveeremi ja nende opereerimise osas;
- hindamaks veeremi ja selle opereerimisega seonduvate kulude suurust.
Enne tööde algust esitab töö teostaja tellijale kooskõlastamiseks tegevuste täpse loetelu ja sellest tuleneva ajakava.
Töö teostamisel koostatakse kõik kirjalikud materjalid ja protokollid konsultandi poolt eesti keeles.

Tellija ja töö teostaja esindajate nõupidamised toimuvad reeglina kord kahe nädala tagant. Poolte kokkuleppel võib vajadusel korraldada nõupidamisi ka sagedamini või harvemini.
Töö lõppraport esitatakse tellijale paberkujul ühes eksemplaris ning digitaalsel andmekandjal kahes eksemplaris.

Tin_Can

August 5th, 2011, 05:03 PM

Wow,that's a nice surprise! :) I take it,that when Tallinn-Tartu-Riga and Tallinn-St.Petersburg routes are found to be feasible (which they are),Estonian company (Go Rail?) will start operating them? It would be bit hard to believe that government would subsidize foreign companies...

Anda ülevaade potentsiaalselt kasutatava veeremi võimalikest tüüpidest: diiselveerem, hübriidveerem (elekter ja diisel); multiple unit, eraldi vedur ja vagunid, eraldi vedur ja vagunid koos juhtvaguniga jne. Anda soovitusi, milline veerem võiks olla kõige otstarbekam Tallinn-Riia ja Tallinn-Peterburi liinidel opereerimiseks.

Anda soovitused, milline peaks olema veeremipargi maht – rongide arv ja mahutavus. Samuti, milline on vajalik koosseisude arv, kui teenindatakse ainult Tallinn-Riia liini, ainult Tallinn-Peterburi liini või mõlemat liini. Välja tuua eri veeremitüüpide hinnanguline soetusmaksumus.
More new trains?!

:eek2:

Maadeuurija

August 5th, 2011, 05:37 PM

I did little research myself couple of days ago on the profitability of Tallinn-St.Petersburg route. Even with my rough overprice fuel calulations and very cheap tickets it was profitable. It needed like 1500 passengers per day to be profitable.
(PS:sorry if this was little OT)

xkala1x

August 5th, 2011, 06:14 PM

Tin_Can

August 5th, 2011, 06:40 PM

Mine tea jääb siiski tõenäosus ,et Veolia Transport ja Arriva võivad Eestisse hiilida...
jah uued rongid on nendele liinidele plaanis soetada, arvestades et enne 2015 aastat liiklust ei avata/No traffic before 2015
^^
Polegi nii utoopiline mõte:
Veolia Transport has an office in Tallinn, Estonia, for business development in the Baltic states and Russia.

Veolia Transport Eesti AS
Peterburi tee 2f, office 409
11415 Tallinn, Estonia
:shifty: So far only Veolia Transport subsidiary without any real transportation service...

Maadeuurija

August 5th, 2011, 10:39 PM

Mine tea jääb siiski tõenäosus ,et Veolia Transport ja Arriva võivad Eestisse hiilida...

See oleks küll tore. Arriva-l tundub olevat rohkem kogemust pikamaa liinidel (omab Inglismaal firmat CrossCountry).

Tin_Can

August 6th, 2011, 06:42 AM

Detail planning of proposed new Tallinn-Väike station. I think I posted news about it to Tallinn development thread or some other thread a while ago,but more details have surfaced about it now. For those of you,who haven't heard about it before - Edelaraudtee is planning to build new 4-storey station building to Tallinn-Väike (in Downtown Tallinn),next to existing old station building. Entire Tallinn-Väike station will also get a makeover - new light traffic roads,street lights,parking lot,station platforms etc. Old station will be converted to cafe/restaurant and guest house. Station is designed by Guru Projekt. Detail planning itself has been going on for about ~5 years by now,so I believe that soon (within next >2 years time) city is going decide whether to approve it or not.

Map: http://tpr.tallinn.ee/TPR_DOK/DP/DP027470/DP027470151872.pdf
Project description: http://tpr.tallinn.ee/TPR_DOK/DP/DP027470/DP027470151876.pdf

I edited this render to point out the new station building:
http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/Raudhunt/DP02747015187g.jpg

Wover

August 6th, 2011, 08:34 AM

Can someone roughly translate the posts made by xkala1x?

Tin_Can

August 6th, 2011, 07:41 PM

Can someone roughly translate the posts made by xkala1x?
^^
Procurement for feasibility study of Tallinn-Tartu-Riga & Tallinn-St.Petersburg routes.
...International transportation connections development is a sector,which needs attention,to improve Estonian competitiveness. Regular train service could fill that priority especially on St'Petersburg & Riga direction...
...Thus study is ordered to find answers to questions,which would be direct starting expenses and profits of Tallinn-Tartu-Riga & Tallinn-St.Petersburg and on which extent those lines would need government support.
To be more precise,contractor assignment is to:
• give overview of current passenger volumes on Riga & St.Petersburg direction and predict future changes in passenger demand.
• bring out potential travel time on both lines,given the infrastructure developements by 2015 (120km/h on Estonian track sections)
• make suggestions,considering demand & potential travel time,for trains circulation.
• predict potential passenger numbers for both lines
• give overview potential rolling stock types and suggestion for best rolling stock & it's volume and determine it's cost
• carry out separate financial analysis for Tallinn-Riga,Tallinn-St.Petersburg and both lines and determine subsidy need for time period of 2015-2030.
...
Is procurement related to project/program funded by EU funds?
No.
...
Is procurement funded by structural fund?
No. (Tin_Can - I take it that it's EU structural funds)
...
Procurement offers are asked from:
a) Tallinn's Technical University (TTÜ)
b) Rakendusuuringute Keskus CentAR OÜ
c) Anseri-Konsultit OY
d) Ernst & Young Baltic AS
...

Starting assignement
Cost-benefit analysis of opening Tallinn-Tartu-Riga and Tallinn-St.Petersburg lines
International transportation connections are considered as one of top priorities for development in close future,to improve Estonian competitiveness.
In terms of low accessibility to/from Estonia,small number of airline routes are brought out,but in shorter distances (300-500km) it's often better to offer railway connections. Of Estonia's close region cities,Riga & St.Petersburg suitable for railway links because of sufficient demand.
Right now there is only one international railway line through Estonia - Tallinn-Moscow (there is also connection from Valga to Riga). Most of traffic between Tallinn & Riga and Tallinn & St.Petersburg is road traffic,in addition to raod traffic there is growing bus service. Tallinn-St.Petersburg train service was last operational in 2008,on Tallinn-Riga direction service hasn't been for over 10 years. For a long,bad state of infrastructure was prohibiting competitive travel time,thus passengers chose other modes of transportation.
For now,situation has considerably improved,especially in Estonia,where big half of Tallinn-Tartu-Valga and Tallinn-Narva railways are 120km/h. With
Praeguseks on olukord aga märkimisväärselt paranenud, seda eriti Eestis, kus nii Tallinn-Tartu-Valga kui ka Tallinn-Narva raudteetrassil saab suuremas osas sõita kiirusega 120 km/h. With the economic growth phase situation has become favorable for the re-opening rail lines.

Despite that,at the moment there aren't any private companies willing to take risks of reopening railway lines. Thus we are in situation,where St.Petersburg and/or Riga connections ,which in their quality would meet expectations of Estonian citizens,tourists and business travellers,need (atleast in close future) government support for either first time investments (purchase of new rolling stock) or covering running costs.
Because of that,work assignment is to make calculations,which would be direct costs for starting Tallinn-Tartu-Riga and Tallinn-St.Petersburg lines & profits and to what extent government support is needed for running those lines.
...
Assignment 1

To give overview of current railway infrastructure situation on Valga-Riga and Narva-St.Petersburg lines: track situation,completed railway repairs & reconstruction works,set speed limits,capacity & it's use etc.
To give overview of Tallinn-Tartu-Riga and Tallinn-St.Petersburg railway infrastructure repair & reconstruction needs and planned developments within next 5 years.

Assignment 2

To give overview of current volume of international travellers between Tallinn,Tartu & Riga and Tallinn & St.Petersburg,separately bringing out bus,airplane & car users.
Passenger numbers have to be evaluated by bigger regions,where potential stations could be located once the service is operational - in case of Tallinn-Riga line Tallinn,Tapa (connecting station for Rakvere & Ida-Virumaa),Tartu,Valga,Valmiera,Riga. For Tallinn-St.Petersburg line Tallinn,Tapa (connecting station for Tartu & Southern Estonia),Rakvere,Jõhvi,Narva,St.Petersburg.

Predict changes in passenger demand until 2030,given the variables affecting demand for different transportation types (for example - income),population changes and economic growth.

Assignment 3

To bring out estimnated travel time for both lines,considering infrastructure developments by 2015 (120km/h on whole route length in Estonia) Depending on demand,choose stations where would be useful to stop.
To show achievable time saving,when in sections top speed would be 160km/h instead of 120km/h (Tallinn-Tapa,Tapa-Tartu,Tartu-Valga,Valga-Valmiera,Valmiera-Riga)
Also,to evaluate time loss brought by stopping in smaller stations (Jõgeva,Elva,Sigulda) in case of different top speeds (120km/h and 160km/h)

Assignment 4

Make suggestions,given the current demand & potential travel times,for train circulation,if onyl Tallinn-Riga line is serviced,only Tallinn-St.Petersburg line is serviced or both lines are serviced.
To bring out the need and possibilities for integrating local train schedules (for transport to Tapa,Valga) Bring out stops,where it would be efficient to stop,considering competing transportation services (especially buses) travel time.

Assignment 5
Predict passenger numbers for both potential railway line in 2015-2030,given most important sections,predicted demand (Assignment 2),travel time (2015),proposed circulation,ticket fees etc.
In case of ticket fees,analyse which would be optimal ticket price,which would maximise profits.
To bring out how many passengers would come over from competing transportation services - separately from airplanes,buses,cars - and how much would be demand for additional transport option.

Assignment 6

To give overview of potentially usable types of roiling stock:
diesel trains,diesel-electric trains; multiple unit,separate locomotive & passenger cars,separate locomotive & passenger cars with drive head etc. Give recommendations which rolling stock would be best for running Tallinn-Riga & Tallinn-St.Petersburg lines.
Give recommendations,which should rolling stock amount - number of trains and capacity. Also,which would be number of needed units,when only Tallinn-Riga line is serviced,only Tallinn-St.Petersburg line is serviced or both lines are serviced. Bring out estimated costs for different rolling stock acquisition.
Recommend comfort levels of trains (which passenger classes,seat parameters & layout,extra services etc) Compare similar lines in service and comfort of rolling stock used on them and services offered.

Assignment 7
Separately run financial analysis for starting Tallinn-Riga, Tallinn-St.Petersburg and both lines and bring out subsidy need for 2015-2030.
Financial analysis must include expenses for starting and operating railway lines,incl. needed investment costs for starting different lines have to be shown,operating costs given most important expenses.
Feasibility study must include profits earned directly from operating lines,separately bringing out ticket profits and other potential profits.

Study is expected to be completed 3 months after contract is signed.
Phew! :D I apologise for any spelling mistakes or bad translation.

Wover

August 7th, 2011, 12:53 PM

Very interesting, thanks!

Tin_Can

August 10th, 2011, 04:13 AM

EVR Infra announced procurement for reconstruction of Vesse & Lilleküla stations in Tallinn.

Winner of this procurement has 300 days to design projects & rebuild both Vesse and Lilleküla station platforms to height of 550mm and build light traffic tunnel to Lilleküla (presumably in place of current railway crossing :cheers:) Deadline for procurement is 8th August.
EVR Infra has announced that 3 contestants entered procurement and they hope to sign contract with winner (who won't be announced before contract has been signed) in September. Construction of both stations & Lilleküla light traffic tunnel is probably going to start in next spring.

__________________________

Another positive news is agreement between Tartu city and owner of Tartu railway station,ending long debate over station building. City,EVR and owner are probably going to cooperate & complete renovation of old station building & it's pedestrian tunnel and will finally reopen station to public.

Photo by Wikipedia
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Tartu_raudteejaama_perroonid_2010.JPG/800px-Tartu_raudteejaama_perroonid_2010.JPG

Tin_Can

August 10th, 2011, 04:59 AM

More photos of Koidula railway border station (Source: Riigi Kinnisvara AS)

http://rkas.ee/photos/_I3D1669-1_large.jpg

http://rkas.ee/photos/_I3D1805_large.jpg

http://rkas.ee/photos/_I3D1868_large.jpg

http://rkas.ee/photos/_I3D1612_large.jpghttp://rkas.ee/photos/_I3D1594_large.jpg

http://rkas.ee/photos/_I3D1922_large.jpg

Nexis

August 10th, 2011, 03:25 PM

Veerenni street railway crossing has been rebuilt now and track reconstruction (on line leaving the city) is currently going on somewhere between Veerenni crossing & Pärnu highway viaduct.

I can't help criticizing the fact that they replaced rubber mats,originally used there,with concrete slabs. Sure,concrete is more wear resistant,but it doesn't offer as smooth ride and it generates more noise than old railway crossing mats did.

http://i51.tinypic.com/2uhxs07.jpg

http://i54.tinypic.com/taq6ut.jpg

http://i51.tinypic.com/2dt8aba.jpg

It seems to be a global trend.....i don't agree with it either....wat happens when the concrete cracks or chips? It cause a train to derail... Here in my state they use a asphalt / rubber mat combo....

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6022/6015520279_224825fa20_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/flickr4jazz/6015520279/)
Little Silver, New Jersey (http://www.flickr.com/photos/flickr4jazz/6015520279/) by flickr4jazz (http://www.flickr.com/people/flickr4jazz/), on Flickr

Tin_Can

August 10th, 2011, 05:25 PM

EVR Cargo is buying 16 Chinese DF7G-E shunters.

http://www.chinacnr.com/Lists/product/_uploads/7113_image072.jpg

Eesti Raudtee board of directors confirmed purchase of 16 new DF7G-E diesel-electric shunting locomotives for 30,2 million euros. First locomotive arrives to Estonia in the end of next year,for type testing period. 15 remaining locomotives will be supplied in second quarter of 2013. Although locomotives are produced in China,engines & most of their parts are made in Europe & America.
Locomotive will be produced by Beijing
Feb.7th Railway Transportation Equipment Co., Ltd,which is part of China CNR Corporation Limited.

New shunters will replace old ChME-3 locomotives.

Link to manufacturer website: http://www.chinacnr.com/p349.aspx?CategoryID=136&ParentID=2

In our region Chinese have previously sold electric locomotives to Belarus.

Maadeuurija

August 10th, 2011, 06:08 PM

:ohno:

Tin_Can

August 10th, 2011, 06:30 PM

Well,clearly the money won and cheapest locomotive was selected. It's a whole different story,how much cheaper those locomotives maintenance is in comparison to old ChMe locomotives...
It's really disappointing,that EVR hasn't learned anything from their previous s**t-o-motive purchases.

Anyway,pictures tell more than words:
New Estonian shunters :|
http://www.chinacnr.com/Lists/product/_uploads/7113_image072.jpg

VS

New Lithuanian shunters :okay:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/ChME3ME-6750_Vilnius.JPG/600px-ChME3ME-6750_Vilnius.JPG

Why on earth didn't EVR select smth like that? (although that ChME3ME is rebuilt old ChME locomotive,CKD also produces brand new shunters)

Nexis

August 10th, 2011, 06:32 PM

Tin_Can

August 10th, 2011, 06:51 PM

Those locos look like a rip-off of the GE locos.....

:yes:

Tbh,it ain't surprising considering how relaxed attitude Chinese have towards copying other companies designs (just look at their locally produced cars,for example)...

estlander

August 10th, 2011, 09:24 PM

täitsa perses.

Maadeuurija

August 10th, 2011, 11:39 PM

täitsa perses.

1st :wave:, welcome back. Mul oli sama reaktsioon
2nd, shunters that EVR is buying:doh:

Tin_Can

August 11th, 2011, 06:05 AM

Yeah,wb estlander! :wave: (estlander oli vahepeal ära või? :shifty:)

Anyway,on topic..
What would you guys say if you knew that testing period of this locomotive is starting soon in Estonia?

:D
http://www.railpictures.net/images/d1/0/4/9/7049.1290526993.jpg

It's TE33A locomotive,manufactured in Kazakhstan. Estonian Rail Services AS (http://www.ers.com.ee/ersweb/index.php) (E.R.S. AS,in short),Vopak E.O.S. subsidiary, is planning to a acquire some of those,as I found out yesterday when I stumbled on few posts about it on another forum. It's legit information,as Tehnilise Järelevalve Amet has approved testing period for this locomotive (ending in 2016)
Although it looks like s**t (Kazakhs cannot into locomotive design! :D) ,it's lot more 'decent' locomotive,than Chinese DF7G's - despite being assembled in Kazakhstan,it's basically a General Electric ES44AC locomotive,which is altered for 1520mm track gauge (Americans supply engines,drivetrains etc. to Kazakhs) I'm not sure why Kazakhs had to 'redesign' the exterior...

Here's how it looks in US:
Photo by UPTRAIN - Boogity Boogity! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/uptrain/),Flickr,©
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2595/4179751869_49022e098f.jpg

Tin_Can

August 11th, 2011, 06:21 AM

Bit more stuff about DF7G shunters. Btw,that 'E' in DF7G-E should simply stand for Estonia,as version sold to Cuba has 'C' in it's name (export versions have extra letter in their name,Chinese ones are simply called DF7G) And yes,Estonia is joining the honourable list of countries using DF7G - China & Cuba :|

DF7G series shunter operating in China.
03ukjzyTTpU
Video by Youtube user righk (http://www.youtube.com/user/righk) ©

And photo of DF7G in Shanghai.
Photo by Bingley Hall (http://www.flickr.com/photos/markcarter/),Flickr,©
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6050/5891217962_92083c0df2_b.jpg

Tin_Can

August 11th, 2011, 09:19 AM

Chinese locomotives purchase was agreed only after EVR board of directors was replaced! Previous EVR board of directors rejected Chinese locomotives!!

Purchase of 16 Chinese made locomotives was approved on second vote (with votes 6:2),after EVR board of directors was replaced and Viljar Arakas was appointed as new CEO of EVR. Previous board of directors rejected offer of Chinese shunters with 5:3 votes!

On EVR Cargo procurement 3 locomotive manufacturers entered the tender and 2 of them met final tender requirements.

Link: http://uudised.err.ee/index.php?06232687
Link (subscription needed for reading full article): http://www.ekspress.ee/news/paevauudised/eestiuudised/selle-suve-suurim-sigadus-riigi-rahaga.d?id=55503886

:mad: Wtf is going on?!

ch1le

August 11th, 2011, 09:32 AM

maybe chinese cargo can into estonia now?

Rebasepoiss

August 11th, 2011, 10:58 AM

Meh, it's probably just corruption. But the final decision hasn't been made yet, that's Parts' job. One reason why it would be stupid to buy locomotives now, is because the government is planning to sell EVR Cargo. Buying new locos should be a task for the new owners.

Maadeuurija

August 11th, 2011, 11:52 AM

Yeah,wb estlander! :wave: (estlander oli vahepeal ära või? :shifty:)
Teda polnud mingi kuu, kaks foorumis näha

Chinese locomotives purchase was agreed only after EVR board of directors was replaced!
:shocked:WTF, soon we will be hearing about missing money and shit like that

Rebasepoiss

August 11th, 2011, 12:01 PM

BTW, check Elektriraudtee's Facebook page. They released a photo of a minute part of the new train :D

Tin_Can

August 11th, 2011, 12:18 PM

BTW, check Elektriraudtee's Facebook page. They released a photo of a minute part of the new train :D
^^
Killuke uuest rongist ;)
http://i51.tinypic.com/20ie985.jpg

It can't be real and it doesn't have any EXIF information - Photoshop? :shifty: Or could it be?...

Damn you,Elektriraudtee,for teasing us! :(

Teda polnud mingi kuu, kaks foorumis näha
Ah,ma arvasin et ta läks puhkusele või midagi taolist.
:shocked:WTF, soon we will be hearing about missing money and shit like that
They are f**ked now - Eesti Ekspress journalists are at it and I'm sure that journalists will dig out every dirty detail about this deal :evil:

Maadeuurija

August 11th, 2011, 12:24 PM

It can't be real and it doesn't have any EXIF information - Photoshop? :shifty: Or could it be?....
hopefully it is

Are they going to change the design of the TE33A's and DF7G's to comply with the EU safety regulations?

Ah,ma arvasin et ta läks puhkusele või midagi taolist. võibolla

Tin_Can

August 11th, 2011, 12:52 PM

Are they going to change the design of the TE33A's and DF7G's to comply with the EU safety regulations?

I think the TE33A testing is planned because of that and they use testing period to acquire necessary EU certificates. Otherwise it would be bit ridiculous to test weather resistance & performance until 2016.
I don't have a slightest clue about DF7G. EVR PR announcement claimed that it complies with both EU & CIS standards,but at this moment DF7G's aren't used in either region.

If they would have selected EU made (and EU standards compliant) locomotives,then testing periods would have been really short (just few months to see how locomotives act on our tracks & maybe few extra test runs in winter)

ilyan

August 11th, 2011, 06:19 PM

What companies except chinese were in tender?

Tin_Can

August 11th, 2011, 09:37 PM

What companies except chinese were in tender?
Those haven't been revealed.
If it shows anything,then in spring Russian Transmashholding was interested about EVR procurement and even acquired procurement documentation,but it's not known if they actually entered tender (if they did enter,then they probably offered TEM18 or TEM TMH shunters)

Skinest Rail was also interested,but didn't enter tender,as they don't produce their own locomotives. They would have produced 'Frankenstein'-locomotives,made out of various parts by acquired from different manufacturers, in their Daugavpils (Latvia) locomotive repair plant,but such locomotives would not have had needed technical certifications.

Rebasepoiss

August 11th, 2011, 11:24 PM

^^ According to Eesti Ekspress, only the Russian and Chinese companies entered the tender because the notification time was very short. GM asked for an extension but Eesti Raudtee refused.

pets

August 12th, 2011, 12:09 AM

^^ According to Eesti Ekspress, only the Russian and Chinese companies entered the tender because the notification time was very short. GM asked for an extension but Eesti Raudtee refused.

then too bad that they choose chinese ones, russia have long traditions to make good and reliable trains, also they have nicer desing... but ofc, probably it's last thing what they look when they choose them ^^

and a little bit about new elektriraudtee passenger trains: http://www.flickr.com/photos/elektriraudtee/sets/72157624526624551/
at least they have choosed somethind nice =)

xkala1x

August 12th, 2011, 01:54 PM

Mis Frankenstein' veduritest sa räägid? Skinest pakkus nö Leedu varianti kus vanade vedurite raamidele oleksid ehitatud uued vedurid CHME-3M ja Transmashholding pakkus TEM TMH vedureid.

Tin_Can

August 12th, 2011, 03:33 PM

Mis Frankenstein' veduritest sa räägid? Skinest pakkus nö Leedu varianti kus vanade vedurite raamidele oleksid ehitatud uued vedurid CHME-3M ja Transmashholding pakkus TEM TMH vedureid.

Selles mõttes,et Skinest'i panus oleks suht väike olnud ja nende pakutu puhul ei oleks saanud otseselt uutest,oma toodetud veduritest rääkida - põhimõtteliselt oleks ju erinevate tootjate juppe kokku pandud - vanade ChME'de veermik,MTU või Caterpillari mootorid,elektroonika jm. Euroopast. Skinest oleks ise ilmselt ainult vedurite kered tootnud.

Kuigi samas tänapäeval ei ole ühtegi rongide valmistajat kes kasutaks 100% ulatuses oma toodangut rongide valmistamiseks...

Igastahes,see selleks. Tagantjärgi vaadates tundub,et EVR valis kõige kehvema pakkumise :bash:

Rebasepoiss

August 12th, 2011, 05:47 PM

^^ Pakutud Vene vedurite tehnika oli väidetavalt oluliselt vanamoodsam kui Hiina veduritel.

Tin_Can

August 12th, 2011, 06:53 PM

^^
Tehnika? :dunno: Ainus vanamoodne osa Transmashholding'u veduri juures on TEM18'ne veermik. Kõik muu on moodne ja enamalt jaolt Lääne päritolu.

Rebasepoiss

August 12th, 2011, 07:54 PM

Noo...väidetavalt on Hiina vedurite mootor ja jõuülekanne n-ö uuemast põlvkonnast. Ma pole mingi ekspert, nii et ma ei tea täpselt, milles see väljendub. Aga põhjus, miks hankega kiirustati, on keskkonnanõuded. Uuest aastast jõustuvad oluliselt karmimad euronõuded vedurite heitgaasikogustele, mis tõstab hinda kuni 25%. Kui aga vedur on toodetud käesoleval aastal, siis piisab veel vanade nõuete järgimisest.

Tin_Can

August 13th, 2011, 05:05 AM

Pakistan Railways about Chinese made locomotives: total disaster (http://majandus.delfi.ee/news/uudised/pakistani-raudtee-hiina-veduritest-katastroof.d?id=55635494)

From internet:
...The PR in its January 2005 performance report had declared 69 Chinese locomotives acquired in September 2003 as technically misfit and substandard. A total of 334 total failures in the Chinese locomotives were reported in a short span of 16 months from September 2003 to January 2005, the report stated...
...One document, dated January 26, 2010 shows that PPRA rules were grossly violated in procurement of these 75 locomotives after a similar purchase of 69 engines turned out to be a disaster as 32 out of 69 of these engines have been scrapped and are standing in the Railway junk yards, unfit to be repaired...

There are so many similarities with our tender - on their tender similar Chinese locomotives were selected over US and Japanese made ones. Overall tender looked just as suspicious as our one does. Accusations of corruption,forgery (of technical documents) and bribery has surrounded entire Pakistani locomotive purchase.

Btw,Pakistanis themselves are still forced to buy more Chinese locomotives,as they have serious shortage of locomotives and new tender would be just too costly.

xkala1x

August 13th, 2011, 12:59 PM

Eesti vedurite raud on Hiinast raam-kabiin-kapott , tehnika ja seadmed Usast ja Euroopast!!!!!!!!!!!!! Caterpillar diesel

Edela

August 15th, 2011, 08:40 PM

Diesel engine is not the whole loco. Did you ever hear about chinese bearing bushes, for example?

Tin_Can

August 19th, 2011, 12:14 AM

Eesti Raudtee and CCOEC/BRE signed contract for 16 DF7G-E shunters (http://www.logistikauudised.ee/article/2011/8/18/eesti-raudtee-ostab-hiinlastelt-16-manoovervedurit)

It's a done deal :(

Tin_Can

August 20th, 2011, 06:59 PM

Photo update of track repairs in Tallinn's central train station. Two tracks are completed and two are U/C. New tracks are weird...looks like EVR Infra has been scavenging their old salvaged tracks and is using them for construction. Normally it wouldn't matter much,as long as tracks are in good condition,but in case of central train station is there really a point of laying used tracks? It's not like they can rebuild tracks every years there. It would make sense to use new tracks,to extend the time between current & next reconstruction as long as possible.
Oh,and track switches have wooden sleepers. :? Does that give smoother ride for trains? What's the benefits of using wooden sleepers over concrete ones in track switches? Don't those have very high wear?

Btw,I've heard from inside sources that EVR Infra is up to two weeks behind schedule with their works in central train station. I hope they manage to pick up the pace,otherwise those works continue all the way into winter :ohno:

http://i56.tinypic.com/72erfb.jpg

Brand new signage lights post.
http://i52.tinypic.com/2q1w6xv.jpg

http://i52.tinypic.com/2hod1cl.jpg

http://i55.tinypic.com/4hpap4.jpg

You can see sections with wooden sleepers here.
http://i52.tinypic.com/2iw8rxf.jpg

http://i56.tinypic.com/scyqdc.jpg

Anyway,trains do move lot smoother there and make less noise. I haven't used electric trains lately,so I can't tell how much it has improved ride quality,but I think the difference is huge.
http://i51.tinypic.com/16m6a9w.jpg

Rebasepoiss

August 21st, 2011, 08:13 AM

You should upload these photos to Baltic Trains Picture Gallery. Maybe they can answer your questions. :dunno:

I see that they are mainly changing switches quite close to the platforms. What about those that are more towards Lilleküla station?

Thanks for the update, BTW! :)

Tin_Can

August 21st, 2011, 11:23 AM

^^
EVR Infra haven't got to those yet. I think there's a chance that those will be left to the last as they'll try to improve track layout on Lilleküla side.

Tin_Can

August 24th, 2011, 06:39 PM

Eesti territooriumile saabub esimene uus Elektriraudtee AS reisirong 30. novembril 2012. aastal (Valga jaama).

Liinile (reisijaid teenindama) asub see rong juulikuus 2013. aastal.
I wonder where they are going to set trains on their bogies...

ch1le

August 24th, 2011, 09:25 PM

dudes. From the photos it seems obvious that sections with wooden sleepers are temporary. They are used only in places where theres a switch, and the switches are most probably temporary, hence wooden ones.

Rebasepoiss

August 25th, 2011, 01:36 PM

^^ I don't know that much about railway construction technologies so maybe you can explain what it is that shows that the switches are temporary.

Alseimik

August 26th, 2011, 04:16 PM

^^ I do not know why, but here in Denmark, we often have wooden sleepers at station switches. I figured the it wasn't worth changing them compared to the benefit and the trouble. I'm interested finding out why!

Rebasepoiss

August 26th, 2011, 05:42 PM

ch1le

August 26th, 2011, 05:49 PM

my theory: ah I dont know. I was counting on these being temporary switch locations...but perhaps they are not.

zeķīte

August 26th, 2011, 08:41 PM

In Latvia almost every railway line have concrete sleepers, but on switches we always have wooden sleepers, but they are maintained and, if needed, changed regularly, so trains can use these switches at speed above 85 km/h.
My theory is that wooden sleepers better absorbs vibrations (caused by trains going over switches) than concrete and wood make less noise when vibrating!

Alseimik

August 27th, 2011, 01:57 PM

^^ My theory: you have to make specific moulds to pour concrete sleepers for each switch which makes it very expensive. Cutting (sawing) wooden sleepers to the necessary length is relatively easy and cheap.

I really don't think it's that expensive, not even notable in terms of railroad construction. A good friend of mine has a dad who owns a farm, and is creating concrete. And he doesn't seem to have any trouble making moulds, of course there's work in it, and precision, but not something that would make it so expensive that it won't be easier to make them in concrete. I believe that switches at stations often is the same in curves etc. so you could just create on mould and process all the sleepers.

In Latvia almost every railway line have concrete sleepers, but on switches we always have wooden sleepers, but they are maintained and, if needed, changed regularly, so trains can use these switches at speed above 85 km/h.
My theory is that wooden sleepers better absorbs vibrations (caused by trains going over switches) than concrete and wood make less noise when vibrating!

That sounds like a good theory.

Tin_Can

August 27th, 2011, 11:11 PM

Photo update of track repairs in Tallinn's central train station. Not much has happened in past week,apart from new track ballast being placed. Only interesting change are few new posts of overhead wires. This means that to some extent track layout has already been altered in central station

You can see new ones here (old ones have weathered dark colour)
http://i51.tinypic.com/vqp3rs.jpg

Photo update of Ülemiste station platforms reconstruction works. Afaik,trains should already stop at new platform on direction heading to city and last remaining bits of old platform will be demolished shortly. Here's how it looked yesterday:

http://i55.tinypic.com/2gvu2kh.jpg

Deadlines on this banner are hopelessly outdated. I think it's more reasonable to assume that Ülemiste station platforms will be completed by winter and pedestrian tunnel by next summer.
http://i53.tinypic.com/33y75nm.jpg

Maadeuurija

August 27th, 2011, 11:23 PM

Afaik,trains should already stop at new platform on direction heading to city

They stop there indeed, it stoped there when I went to Tallinn on Friday.

Tin_Can

August 27th, 2011, 11:59 PM

How's the new station platform? It looks pretty narrow (on pedestrian bridge side),so does is cause any problems for passengers entering/exiting train?

Btw,when I was there yesterday I noticed ridiculous situation - Edelaraudtee diesel train had to stop twice after it was already leaving the station. On last occasion it managed to stop at the pedestrian crossing (train was already outside the station by whole wagon length). The cause for this - two passengers trying to catch the departing train. It probably caused train to lose several valuable minutes,not to mention how dangerous this actually was to those people.
When those people realise that trains aren't some buses or smth alike,which can stop any time and that you simply don't run around the stations,when trains are departing. Train drivers should have left those fools behind (maybe it would have thought them smth about punctuality). Hmm,on the other hand,they would have probably gone complaining to some newspapers....

Maadeuurija

August 28th, 2011, 07:23 PM

How's the new station platform? It looks pretty narrow (on pedestrian bridge side),so does is cause any problems for passengers entering/exiting train?

It didn't seem to cause any problems then cause everybody went towards level crossing, nobody used the bridge.

Maadeuurija

August 28th, 2011, 07:34 PM

Good news (http://www.virumaateataja.ee/487072/tapa-auruvedur-saab-uue-elu/), the steam locomotive in Tapa will be moved and restored and moved to a new place between the new platforms.

some progress has been made, they have laid some temporary track and prepared the base for the locomotive.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6079/6089114897_441c63e932.jpg
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6078/6089115841_c738c8dcf7.jpg
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6077/6089670346_643edf1bdf.jpg
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6072/6089672570_ef36966c4c.jpg
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6204/6089125587_ca428dcbb1.jpg
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6064/6089120467_a14a63ea46.jpg

Wover

August 28th, 2011, 07:42 PM

How's the new station platform? It looks pretty narrow (on pedestrian bridge side),so does is cause any problems for passengers entering/exiting train?

Just came back from Tartu on the Express train and a lot of people (including me) left the train in Ülemiste and I'd say with all those people almost the full capacity was already used.

But since towards Tallinn there are barely people getting on the train and towards the east barely people getting off, I don't think it will pose any problems ;).

Maadeuurija

August 28th, 2011, 07:47 PM

Some bonus pictures of the interior of the loco
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6061/6089117605_2a680d66fa.jpg
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6070/6089661670_6b46a75440.jpg
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6081/6089112783_facdb3610a.jpg

Maadeuurija

August 28th, 2011, 08:00 PM

A update on the reconstruction of the Narva side platform in Tapa
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6190/6089118333_14281e40ff.jpg
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6082/6089121831_cb27e8735e.jpg
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6077/6089071509_031a83705f.jpg
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6064/6089126259_d3e08108c2.jpg
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6066/6089673154_7cfac23962.jpg

Also during the last three months they have replaced some switches, reconstructed couple of sidings and changed the track geometry.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6080/6089657894_09239a7fc0.jpg

Tin_Can

August 28th, 2011, 09:13 PM

Great update,Maadeuurija! :okay: Railway construction works & stuff has been going on for years in Tapa and it's nice to finally see some photos of it. Last time I was there,most freight yard tracks were replaced...it's nice that station also got overhaul.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6078/6089115841_c738c8dcf7.jpg
Btw,that's an L-series steam engine,produced in Soviet Union after World War 2. As far as I know,when Tapa locomotive gets refurbished,it will be third of it's kind left in Estonia - one is also in Tallinn's central train station and one is operational - the steam engine 'Kaspar'.
I hope Tapa locomotive get some security cameras,otherwise some kids might trash it up again. And because of it's history,Tapa town would deserve replica armoured train locomotive or smth similar.

Maadeuurija

August 28th, 2011, 09:24 PM

There is actually 5 of L-series locos left in Estonia, there is L-3297(Kaspar, the working one),then there is L-1646 in Haapsalu, L-5049 in Türi, L-2317 in Tallinn and L-1361 in Tapa
PS:There was a article about L-series Locos in August's edition Tehnikamaailm

Tin_Can

August 28th, 2011, 09:38 PM

Oh yeah,forgot those in Haapsalu & Türi. Estonia actually has good range of old steam locomotives. It's bit sad that there aren't many newer locomotives left... it would have been cool to have M62 diesel locomotive standing in some station.

Tin_Can

August 29th, 2011, 04:31 PM

Delfi published today excellent article by TTÜ economics lecturer Rein Riisalu about new Eesti Raudtee shunters tender.

...close to half billion kroons (Tin_Can - in old currency) is big money,even in railway & transit business. Eesti Raudtee's shunters purchase decision is actually lot bigger than it's shown out.

Today EVR Cargo uses for shunting Czech origin ChME-3 shunters,which at the end of last year were 17 in stock and Ukrainian 2TE116,which are 4 in stock. Purchase of 16 new shunters would basically mean total replacement of ChME-3's,i.e. new locomotives wouldn't only operate between Petseri & Koidula,but all over Estonia,incl.Tallinn's Downtown. And this is decision for next 30 years,which also means new depots,repair equipment and training. If in addition to EVR Cargo two Latvian and one Lithuanian company have expertise in repairing ChME-3's,then in Europe and in Russia aren't anyone who has experience in the repair and maintenance of Chinese locomotives.

It's surprising that Eesti Raudtee new board made so important and long binding decision right on their first meeting and contract was approved by all parties in less that ten days! (sic!)

Eesti Raudtee board member Priit Haller protects rapid decision making - if we don't sign deal right now,then from 2012 new environmental requirements would increase price of locomotives 20-25%.
Environmental Requirements Directive means that from 2012 onwards locomotive engines will have to meet phase IIIB criteria on limits of pollutant emissions released into air by engines. So far,phase IIIA motor is acceptable only if ordered before 2012 and if locomotives are delivered before 2014. The new criteria state that the engines must emit several times less solid substances,nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons.
Engine price is about 25% of total locomotive cost. New engines are ~10% more expensive than older ones. Making a simple calculation now,we get that locomotive price increases no more than 2,5%. If Estonian government supports electric car purchase for the sake of cleaner environment,then why the government owned company has to acquired polluting equipment,when there are reasonably priced alternatives? Those new locomotives will start to work in railway cities centre!

Chinese haven't so far produced not a single DF7G-E locomotive,there isn't even a prototype of it. They have made DF7G & DF7G-C's,which aren't same.
On a slide presented to Eesti Raudtee board and published in Eesti Ekspress newspaper isn't Chinese locomotive,but modernized (i.e. not new) Czech locomotive. Chinese haven't made any diesel locomotives for European Union and thus haven't passed certification process here.

In May this year,European Union rolling stock safety standards TSI (Technical Specifications of Interoperability) came into force and new locomotives have to be certified under those conditions. According to safety standards it's needed to obtain certification for all components and only then can be applied for a certificate to locomotive,which is put together from those components. As it's decided in favour of the IIIA engines,then the whole project is under serious time pressure.

Eesti Raudtee has said that Chinese have to deliver the first of a new locomotive for type-approval in Estonia in the first half of 2012 and the remaining 15 locomotives in the second quarter of 2013. Certification itself takes about a year,if there aren't any setbacks. Did they negotiated with TJA (Tehnilise Järelvalve Amet/Technical Surveillance Authority) before the contract signed,so this all would be possible before 2014? The media has already published Pakistan railways experience with Chinese locomotives - it would be cheaper to send delegation of Estonian specialists to Pakistan or even to Cuba,to evaluate this technology with their own eyes.

If testing & certification of new thing takes longer time,then how are financial risk covered? Eesti Raudtee makes 15% down payment,which is price of about 2,4 locomotives. If now happens that project doesn't stay on schedule,then Chinese would have still spent the money to design & build locomotive. O worst case scenario Chinese leave 4,5 million euro down payment for themselves,as they have made their work. And if things remain incomplete,this sum covers probably all Chinese expenses with good margin. Eesti Raudtee would be left with one experimental DF7G-E with 'wrong engine',to what laws don't allow usage permit issued.

During last major locomotives purchase Eesti Raudtee spent lot of resources to persuade Estonian railway supervision instances and public,that American locomotives are fit for working on our railways & environment. But even now Russia doesn't allow American locomotives on it's railways. If specific technical parameters of new locomotives exist,then based on previous experience they could have negotiated with Russian side and ask their acceptance,before final contracts were signed. Otherwise it's deja vu again.
Things happening on Estonian territory are Estonian business and thing happening on Russian territory are Russian business and if our business model is transit on East-West direction,then we should allow Russians to participate on what is related to their property & territory. In another words,locomotives would have to be certified in Russian Federation also,so it could cross Russian border.

What lesson gave us American C30-7A locomotives?
2002-2003 Eesti Raudtee acquired American C30-7A and C36-7 locomotive. The latter were more powerful and even today these are used as main line locomotives. 19 C30-7A locomotives found little use,they didn't receive any major repairs and by the end of 2008 (i.e. only six years after purchase) they were written off. Being wise after,it could be asked whether it was still the best purchase? Thinking from here on,ChME-3 were "Second World War era technology" even three years ago and still Eesti Raudtee preferred those to 60-70s technology.

In their nature,C30-7A's would suit to be shunters, Comparing to ChME-3's,C30-7A are over twice as powerful and because of that fuel consumption is (unnecessarily) lot higher. When comparing C30-7A's to DFG-C locomotives,produced by Chinese for Cuba,then power difference is only ~20%..forcing to think that same locomotives will be bought,which are identical to ones were written off just three years ago...

It's natural that Eesti Raudtee is constantly searching ways to make their work more efficient and work of specialists done on studying various manufacturers & locomotives definitely shouldn't be underestimated.
Thus it would be sad and shameful,if because of rushing good deeds will become nightmares for those who are responsible for decision making,for those who have to get the work done with those locomotive and also for those who live close to railway stations. Especially,when financial gain isn't anywhere in sight.

Source: http://www.delfi.ee/news/paevauudised/arvamus/rein-riisalu-vedurite-ost-uheksa-korda-mooda-uks-kord-loika.d?id=56100992

Tin_Can

August 29th, 2011, 11:31 PM

Here's smth for Maadeuurija ;)

Tapa parish has published few photos of L-series steam engine being moved to new location. It gives a good look at equipment used by Eesti Raudtee Avariiteenistus (railway emergency service)

http://www.tapa.ee/public/files/large/S6001013.JPG

http://www.tapa.ee/public/files/large/S6000984.JPG

http://www.tapa.ee/public/files/large/S6000999.JPG

http://www.tapa.ee/public/files/large/S6000977.JPG

http://www.tapa.ee/public/files/large/S6000990.JPG

http://www.tapa.ee/public/files/large/S6000968.JPG

Source: http://www.tapa.ee/index.php?page=0&action=article&article_id=680

Maadeuurija

August 30th, 2011, 12:09 AM

Thanks Tin, great pictures.
I'm gonna problaby take some pictures on my way back from school if there has been some change since Sunday.

Tin_Can

September 2nd, 2011, 03:59 PM

Valga-Võru-Koidula railway line needs large investments before passenger train service could be reopened.

Despite (re-)connection of Southern Estonian railway 'triangle'. It was originally triangle shaped railways between Tartu-Valga-Petseri,but as Petseri was ceded to Russians,the 'triangle' was broken. But as Koidula railway border station & it's railways have been built,link on the railway triangle has been restored.

You can see the 'triangle' on South-Eastern corner of this map:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Estonian_railway_network.svg/750px-Estonian_railway_network.svg.png

Plans would see opening passenger train service between Valga & Koidula and would also allow people from Võru town to use passenger trains. Unfortunately,Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications has commented that reconstruction of Valga-Koidula railway,upgrading tracks to 120km/h speed limits and rebuilding stations would cost ~16 million euros,so it's unlikely that passenger train service could be reopened there within next few years.

Source: http://www.tartupostimees.ee/549980/voru-ja-antsla-lahiaastail-reisirongiuhendust-ei-saa/

Tin_Can

September 2nd, 2011, 04:17 PM

I ran into impressive collection of historic railway photos - of Tapa town and it's railways.

I really recommend you to check it out (on side panel select 'raudtee' and browse through it's submenus): http://www.tapamuuseum.ee/ajalugu/raudtee.htm

Few of their photos:
Tapa train station in 1918.
http://www.tapamuuseum.ee/ajalugu/images2/2tapa%20jaam-1918.jpg

Tapa train station in 1934-1935.
http://www.tapamuuseum.ee/ajalugu/images2/tapa-jaam-1934.jpg

http://www.tapamuuseum.ee/ajalugu/images2/tapa-jaam-1935.jpg

Tapa freight station in 1960s.
http://www.tapamuuseum.ee/ajalugu/images2/tapa-kaubajaam-1960.jpg

Tapa locomotive depot in 1970s.
http://www.tapamuuseum.ee/ajalugu/images/veduridepoo.jpg

Same place from air,up-to-date photo.
http://www.tapamuuseum.ee/ajalugu/images3/tapa-depoo-lennult.jpg

Tin_Can

September 2nd, 2011, 04:29 PM

There's one more excellent website with lots of historic Estonian railway photos,but I can't reveal all the good stuff at once ;)

greentrainman

September 2nd, 2011, 11:06 PM

Come on, Tin Can, let's have it all now. In Englad you would be called a spoilsport!

greentrainman

September 2nd, 2011, 11:08 PM

Be helpful if I could spell England properly

Tin_Can

September 3rd, 2011, 12:00 AM

Oh okay then... ;)

Rapla-Virtsu narrow gauge railway (track gauge 750mm) Built in 1931,abandoned & dismantled in 1968.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/et/thumb/7/76/Raplavirtsuraudtee1.png/600px-Raplavirtsuraudtee1.png

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Corpet-Louvet_in_Estonia_1930.jpg/600px-Corpet-Louvet_in_Estonia_1930.jpg

Construction of Vigala station.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Vigala_station_1930.jpg/600px-Vigala_station_1930.jpg

Karuse station.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Karuse_1930s.jpg/600px-Karuse_1930s.jpg

Virtsu borough has extensive website about former narrow gauge railway.
Link to their website (browse through it,there are lots of photos there): http://www.virtsu.ee/ajalugu/rt_01_ehitamine.html

The following photos are from Virtsu borough website. All rights reserved.
Virtsu station and it's depot (were destroyed in World War 2)
http://www.virtsu.ee/gfx/pildid/raudtee/virtsu_jaamahoone_parikas.jpg
http://www.virtsu.ee/gfx/pildid/raudtee/virtsu_depoo.jpg

Temporary Virtsu station building,used after main station was destroyed.
http://www.virtsu.ee/gfx/pildid/raudtee/virtsu_jaam_1.jpg

Kirbla station.
http://www.virtsu.ee/gfx/pildid/raudtee/kirbla_jaamahoone.jpg

A66 locomotive,in Nõmme-Väike depot,Tallinn.
http://www.virtsu.ee/gfx/pildid/raudtee/klaus_vedurid_veebi/1920-A66_Nomme.jpg

Sk154 in Virtsu.
http://www.virtsu.ee/gfx/pildid/raudtee/klaus_vedurid_veebi/1953-Sk154_Virtsu-2.jpg

Tu-2 & Gk series locomotives on Virtsu railway,in 1960s.
http://www.virtsu.ee/gfx/pildid/raudtee/vedurid.jpg

Tu-2
http://www.virtsu.ee/gfx/pildid/raudtee/esimene_tu2.jpg

Pafawag wagons,used since 1957 until line's closure in 1968.
http://www.virtsu.ee/gfx/pildid/raudtee/vagun_1.jpg

The last train. 25th May 1968.
http://www.virtsu.ee/gfx/pildid/raudtee/viimane_rong_Virtsus_3.jpg
http://www.virtsu.ee/gfx/pildid/raudtee/1968_sulgemine-HMF-152-53.jpg

Last train ran in 25th May 1968. Between 1969-1971 entire line was dismantled.

greentrainman

September 3rd, 2011, 09:06 AM

Thanks for that, Tin Man. I knew I could rely on you!

Tin_Can

September 5th, 2011, 06:41 PM

Koidula railway border station was opened on weekend and is finally entirely functional.

Few photos from opening ceremony:
http://live.logistikauudised.ee/images/publicationimages/220120ca-aa99-45a3-8ace-8356a259a001_big.jpg

http://live.logistikauudised.ee/images/publicationimages/27c26a14-4f1f-49f2-a2a1-e14f195c3de9_big.jpg

http://live.logistikauudised.ee/images/publicationimages/16d47a04-f3f4-40f7-ad0b-a93f735813c4_big.jpg

Construction company Nordecon representatives.
http://live.logistikauudised.ee/images/publicationimages/7a23f3a5-c296-46ab-b7dd-bae75b889b45_big.jpg

Representatives from Chinese company,who built x-ray system.
http://live.logistikauudised.ee/images/publicationimages/764ff906-81ae-4ff0-9181-4f5aede9a718_big.jpg

President discovering all the joys of travelling with ancient passenger trains. I bet they didn't saw smth like that in United States :D
http://live.logistikauudised.ee/images/publicationimages/43e87a3d-8834-4d34-8a24-18d296b8104e_big.jpg

Full gallery: http://logistikauudised.ee/article/2011/9/4/fotod-sajandi-ehitusobjekti-avamine

Tin_Can

September 6th, 2011, 07:44 PM

Another positive news is agreement between Tartu city and owner of Tartu railway station,ending long debate over station building. City,EVR and owner are probably going to cooperate & complete renovation of old station building & it's pedestrian tunnel and will finally reopen station to public.

Photo by Wikipedia
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Tartu_raudteejaama_perroonid_2010.JPG/800px-Tartu_raudteejaama_perroonid_2010.JPG

It seems that city is only going to finance reconstruction,if they get to rent the station for 20 years.

Truly WTF-situation - Tartu train station building was sold to businessman who,by sale contract, was supposed to fix it. Instead,he suddenly found out that renovation would be too expensive and requested city & railway companies financial support. And now the city AND railway companies STILL have to pay for renovation of the station.
Question - why was the station sold in the first place? It's pretty obvious that certain persons have profited from this deal...maybe it's smth for KAPO to investigate?

Source: http://www.delfi.ee/news/paevauudised/eesti/tartu-raudteejaam-saab-viimaks-korda.d?id=57259692

Tin_Can

September 7th, 2011, 12:11 AM

Photo update of track repairs in Tallinn's central train station. Old track next to central train station has been removed and new track bed has been laid. New tracks will be probably laid within this week and this leaves only two more tracks to go (I doubt that those few tracks behind EVR building will be replaced - those are rarely used) in Tallinn's central train station + replacing track switches at tracks leading to central train station & Kopli freight station.

http://i54.tinypic.com/2u8gy1v.jpg

http://i55.tinypic.com/2yulver.jpg

http://i53.tinypic.com/288p6u.jpg

http://i54.tinypic.com/9s6slu.jpg

http://i52.tinypic.com/xojgw6.jpg

Tin_Can

September 7th, 2011, 11:20 AM

According to PR announcement by Eesti Raudtee,Bureau
Veritas Certification will observe Chinese locomotives designing & construction.
Also,they said that once locomotives get Estonian certification,they can also run on Russian railways (i.e. - can perform cross-border shunting in border stations).
4 Chinese locomotives will start working in Koidula station and rest in other freight stations in Estonia.

Tin_Can

September 8th, 2011, 02:57 PM

Most of this year's railway reconstruction projects have been completed.

Eesti Raudtee has released PR-announcement about completing most of this year's planned railway repairs.

In short:
...Eesti Raudtee tütarettevõte AS EVR Infra tagab 2011.a. töödehooaja lõpuks Ülemiste-Tapa raudteeremondi lõikudel stabiilse ja kiire rongiliikluse. Paraku peavad reisijad arvestama 2012.a. kevadest raudteel remonditööde jätkumisega.

Augustilõpu seisuga on Tallinn - Tapa raudteeliinil remondi põhitööd lõpetatud ligi 95 kilomeetril teel, mis moodustab antud lõiku hõlmava Rail Balticu projekti kogumahust 86%. Seejuures on juba praegu Ülemiste - Tapa raudteelõigul reisirongidele lubatud sõidukiirus valdavalt 120 km/h.

Käesoleva aasta lõpuks on samuti kavas lõpetada Ülemiste - Aegviidu lõigul reisijate ooteplatvormide rekonstrueerimine, Ülemiste ja Lagedi jalakäijate tunnelite ehitus ning Aegviidu jaama raudteede ja kontaktvõrgu remont, pöörmete vahetus, parklate rajamine, ja muud kaasnevad tööd. Ka Lagedi ja Raasiku jaamades on rööbaste vahetus kavas selle aastanumbri sees ära teha.

Järgmisel kevadel jätkub raudteede remont ja pöörmete vahetus Ülemiste ja Tallinn-Balti jaamades ning Ülemiste liiklussõlme ehituse piirkonnas. Rekonstrueerimist ootavad veel ka reisijate ooteplatvormid Balti jaamast kuni Laagrini. Lisaks on kavas järgmisel aastal alustada nii raudteeremonti kui ka kontaktvõrgu rekonstrueerimist Tallinn-Balti jaamast Paldiski ning Keila – Riisipere suunas....
...Eesti Raudtee subsidiary AS EVR Infra ensures stable and fast train traffic on repaired Ülemiste-Tapa railway sections by the end of 2011 work season. Unfortunately passengers have to take into account that repair works continue in spring 2012.

By the end of August,main repair works on Tallinn-Tapa line have been completed on 95 km of railways,which forms 86% of Rail Baltica project on this section. And also,on Ülemiste-Tapa railway line permitted speed for passenger trains is already predominantly 120km/h.

By the end of this year it is planned to complete station platforms reconstruction on Ülemiste-Aegviidu line,Ülemiste and Lagedi pedestrian tunnels construction,Aegviidu station tracks & overhead wires renewal,changing of track switches,construction of parking lots and all other works. Track renewal is also planned to be completed within this year in Lagedi & Raasiku stations.

Railway repairs & track switches replacement continues in next spring in Ülemiste & central train station and in vicinity of Ülemiste road junction.
Station platforms from central train station to Laagri also need reconstruction. In addition,it's planned to start railway repairs and overhead wires reconstruction on direction from central train station to Paldiski and to Keila/Riisipere...

It's nice that they plan to build Ülemiste pedestrian tunnel within this year,but it's really bad that railway repairs in central train station continue in next year. Just imagine how badly it will affect passenger train service in central train station - track repairs/track switches replacement AND platform reconstruction. :nuts:
Anyway,it will be interesting to see what Leonhard Weiss RTE will do with central train station. Will the station have decent roofs on platforms and will those platforms be entirely new or rebuilt from current ones?
Can't wait for next year! :D

Maadeuurija

September 8th, 2011, 05:13 PM

Small news: In todays Päevaleht there was an article about the restoring Tapa and Tartu station buildings and reopening them to the public.

Tin_Can

September 8th, 2011, 08:01 PM

^^
That's great news!

A bit of statistics:
Edelaraudtee has serviced 1,2 million passengers in first eight months of 2011.

Edelaraudtee has serviced 1,2 million passengers in first eight months of 2011. That's 2% increase,comparing to 2010.

Tallinna–Türi–Viljandi line - 413'771 passengers (lol,yeah,best line despite major reconstruction works between Türi & Viljandi and replacement buses!)
Tallinn–Tartu–Valga line - 387'705 passengers
Tallinna–Narva line - 126'320 passengers
Tallinna–Rapla line - 134'249 passengers
Tallinna–Pärnu line - 126'082 passengers
Tartu–Orava line - 24'094 passengers

Compared to last year's August,passenger numbers have grown by 3,1%.

Source: http://majandus.delfi.ee/news/uudised/edelaraudtee-on-teenindanud-tanavu-ligi-12-miljonit-reisijat.d?id=57416336

Tin_Can

September 17th, 2011, 09:31 AM

Photo update of Ülemiste station platforms reconstruction works. Not much has happened since last update. New platform on >city direction has been built slightly longer (still not at full lenght) and earthworks are being done around the station (and still no tunnel construction)

http://i55.tinypic.com/qnrz1w.jpg

http://i51.tinypic.com/2vvkphu.jpg

Tin_Can

September 17th, 2011, 03:58 PM

Lithuanian company plans to sue Eesti Raudtee for their shunters tender.

Consortium of Lithuanian TMHB UAB and VLRD UAB plans to sue Eesti Raudtee,as they estimate that EVR has violated international procurement rules and law of government tenders.
Their lawyer said that consortium has serious suspicions about procurement being hoax and winner being pre-selected before the procurement.
Lithuanian consortium plans to prove in court that EVR Cargo decision was not substantive and objective. Consortium finds it incomprehensible how decision was made to purchase locomotives which aren't produced never before,which don't have design project and necessary certificates for operating in European Union & Russia,not to mention it being unclear if those certificates will be obtained at all. These (-locomotives - Tin_Can) are considerably complicate technical engineering solutions and so it's impossible to understand how 'imaginary locomotive' managed to win real procurement. Especially in conditions with very short supply deadlines.
Lithuanian consortium suspects that concessions have been made to Chinese during the contract signing - atleast in supply deadlines.
Although their entry wasn't the cheapest on tender,Lithuanians haven't got any solid justifications from EVR Cargo about why they lost locomotive tender.

Source: http://majandus.delfi.ee/news/uudised/leedu-firma-annab-eesti-raudtee-veduriostu-parast-kohtusse.d?id=57963096&l=fplead

TMHB UAB is Lithuanian subsidiary of Russian company Transmashholding. Company has previously produced modernized shunters for Lithuanian Railways.

estlander

September 17th, 2011, 06:03 PM

Thats good news. I hope that this shit will be big bang for all. We should start anti-campaign against red Eesti Raudtee invasion.

Hah, when somebody start painting red pentagrams to trains...

Rebasepoiss

September 17th, 2011, 11:04 PM

TMHB UAB is Lithuanian subsidiary of Russian company Transmashholding. Company has previously produced modernized shunters for Lithuanian Railways.
AFAIK, this has been a complete failure.

Tin_Can

September 22nd, 2011, 05:27 PM

Tin_Can

September 23rd, 2011, 04:08 PM

Elektriraudtee has launched new portal where everyone can find new information about Stadler trains construction process. Check it out here: http://uus.elektriraudtee.ee/teated

Feast your eyes upon this! First new details of our new trains:
First class seats
http://i54.tinypic.com/2vjej2c.jpg

Ordinary seats
http://i52.tinypic.com/2j4y3cw.jpg

Form for molding fiber-glass nose panels
http://i51.tinypic.com/11hsa3b.jpg

And plans:
Electrical sockets layout in diesel trains
http://i51.tinypic.com/1znc51k.jpg

Electrical sockets layout in electric trains
http://i53.tinypic.com/2ir2kbl.jpg

First new train bodies should be completed by the end of this year. :banana:

Maadeuurija

September 23rd, 2011, 07:52 PM

:drool:
can't wait for the new trains.
Could elektriraudtee use the disel trains for commuter service between Tallinn and Tapa or Rakvere?

zeķīte

September 23rd, 2011, 11:12 PM

Do you, Estonians, know technical specifications of flirts that you will have?
I would love to know how big acceleration your new trains will have, how much they will weight and how many motor-bogies/ normal bogies it will have.

Rebasepoiss

September 23rd, 2011, 11:43 PM

Some technical data: http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=et&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=et&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fuus.elektriraudtee.ee%2Ftehnilised-andmed%2F

estlander

September 25th, 2011, 10:26 AM

http://www.epl.ee/news/eesti/rail-baltic-eesti-vottis-julge-otsusega-initsiatiivi.d?id=58426472

:smug:

Tin_Can

September 25th, 2011, 01:05 PM

^^
Comments are interesting. Apart from few trolls,people seem to really like that Rail Baltica is rapidly moving ahead. I wonder what people think about the project in Latvia & Lithuania... :D

Eesti Raudtee renessanss on rõõmustav!
So true.

Tin_Can

September 30th, 2011, 06:10 PM

Tin_Can

October 1st, 2011, 01:00 AM

RZD wishes to open Tallinn-St.Petersburg train line by the time of 2018 FIFA World Cup.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/RZD.svg/280px-RZD.svg.png

Russian Railways (to be more precise,it's branch Октябрьской ЖД ) head Viktor Stepov has said that they wish to open train connection between Tallinn & St.Petersburg by the time of 2018 FIFA World Cup.
RZD has already set this project in next year's (2012) investment plans.

Sources: In Russian: http://www.fontanka.ru/2011/09/29/097/
In English: http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/transport/?doc=46582

Looks like Go Rail is going to face competition :) Imho,it's a good thing.

Maadeuurija

October 1st, 2011, 11:34 AM

IMO they shoud build something like Allegro between Tallinn and St.Petersburg, theres still enough time to do it.

Rebasepoiss

October 1st, 2011, 01:05 PM

Maadeuurija

October 1st, 2011, 11:46 PM

Just upgrade the line to 160km/h and perform the border checks on board. That will decrease the travel time significantly. BTW, even the TEP70 has a maximum operating speed of 160km/h, no need for expensive new trains.

you have a point there, then the FLIRT's could be used to full potential. the TEP 70 top speed i knew but i frogot when posting before.

Maadeuurija

October 1st, 2011, 11:46 PM

a small Tapa station update
first, they have demolished a part of the old depot.
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k633/taniel0401/Tapa%20jaama%20update/DSC01384.jpg
second, construction has started on the Tartu side platform.
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k633/taniel0401/Tapa%20jaama%20update/DSC01420.jpg
progress in a week or so
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k633/taniel0401/Tapa%20jaama%20update/DSC01454.jpg

to be continued....(hint it has to do something with the big tent)

Maadeuurija

October 1st, 2011, 11:59 PM

third, they have been renovationg the old steam train in the big tent for a month now and made some progress.
one big-a#@ tent
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k633/taniel0401/Tapa%20jaama%20update/DSC01326.jpg
couple days after the tent was erected.
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k633/taniel0401/Tapa%20jaama%20update/DSC01339.jpg
they sandblasted the old paint and rust of it.
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k633/taniel0401/Tapa%20jaama%20update/DSC01336.jpg
continues..

Maadeuurija

October 2nd, 2011, 12:01 AM

last week they stared to repair some of it's parts and stuff
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k633/taniel0401/Tapa%20jaama%20update/DSC01385.jpg
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k633/taniel0401/Tapa%20jaama%20update/DSC01387.jpg
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k633/taniel0401/Tapa%20jaama%20update/DSC01423.jpg
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k633/taniel0401/Tapa%20jaama%20update/DSC01464.jpg
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k633/taniel0401/Tapa%20jaama%20update/DSC01463.jpg
Sry for bad picture quality, made them with my phone on way home from school.
update goes on

Maadeuurija

October 2nd, 2011, 12:09 AM

last but not least
they have started pouring new platform sides on station side and built a drainage pipe on the north side
pouring concrete
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k633/taniel0401/Tapa%20jaama%20update/DSC01460.jpg
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k633/taniel0401/Tapa%20jaama%20update/DSC01458.jpg
building the drainage pipe
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k633/taniel0401/Tapa%20jaama%20update/DSC01395.jpg
bounus pic of plant growing on the station itself
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k633/taniel0401/kunsti%20fotod/DSC01342.jpg

Rest of pictures i made during september (http://photobucket.com/SSCTapajaam)

Rebasepoiss

October 2nd, 2011, 10:25 AM

^^ Nice update, thanks!

Tin_Can

October 2nd, 2011, 01:31 PM

Nice update indeed! :okay: Tapa station surroundings get a pretty decent makeover. It's been ages since I was in Tapa (well,longer than it takes a train to stop there :D),so I've got to ask - have they finally fixed up Tapa railway crossing too? It used to be horrible experience driving over it with car...

Maadeuurija

October 2nd, 2011, 02:05 PM

have they finally fixed up Tapa railway crossing too? It used to be horrible experience driving over it with car...

They fixed it like couple of years ago, it's ok for now, but not for long.

OT:Tin you still planing to make a train trip to Riga?

Tin_Can

October 2nd, 2011, 02:32 PM

Yeah,but probably in next summer/autumn (I'm getting new camera in next year,so I'm really looking forward to travelling in N&B region)
Right now I'm too tied up with work and I won't be able to get enough free time for travelling before this winter. :(

void0

October 2nd, 2011, 08:05 PM

IMO they shoud build something like Allegro between Tallinn and St.Petersburg, theres still enough time to do it.

I doubt there will enough passenger traffic, in case of Helsinki there are a lot of business travelers and tourists, visiting Finland for tax free shopping, cottages and airports

ssh

October 3rd, 2011, 01:18 AM

Transit opportunities create interest and not vice versa. Tallinn-Helsinki ferry lines are a classic example of this.

Kurivaim

October 3rd, 2011, 11:30 PM

Transit opportunities create interest and not vice versa. Tallinn-Helsinki ferry lines are a classic example of this.

Not really true. Interest to travel between Helsinki-Tallinn was already there in the beginning of 90s. What was missing, was the opportunity. Tourists between These two cities has grown thanks to alcohol tourism and estonian workflow to finland, something that's missing between baltic states. I sometimes can't even belive how stupid people are thnking that they will really travel by train paying twice as much as plane ticket to get to Berlin. If for anything, RB is only going to be for cargo, not passengers. Maybe a night train, but not more.

Tin_Can

October 4th, 2011, 01:20 AM

Welcome to forum,Kurivaim! :wave:

Don't forget that comfort is also determining factor,when comparing air travel to trains. A train running reasonably fast and has buffet wagon & comfortable interior,is somewhat superior to airplane where most passenger are stuck to cramped seats (unless they pay extra money for business class seats),have to eat airplane 'food' and each time exiting/entering plane would have to go through tiresome security checks.
Aaaand then there's fuel price... ;) Airplane tickets are cheap right now,but in the future they will be way more expensive because of rising fuel prices. Rail Baltica on the other hand would have electric passenger trains and thus would not have problems with oil prices on world markets.

About St.Petersburg railway line - In a way,there is demand for Tallinn-St.Petersburg route even now. Just think of the Christmas time when Russian tourist hordes land in Tallinn. From what I remember,for this season 10+ special tourist trains will run between Russia & Estonia.
There are also enough people travelling between two cities - the only trouble is that almost all of them use buses. Now,if smth could be done with border checks (like checking passports & luggage on running trains),then Tallinn-St.Petersburg trains could be competitive enough to offer good travel choice for people.

Edela

October 4th, 2011, 02:18 AM

Rail Baltica on the other hand would have electric passenger trains and thus would not have problems with oil prices on world markets.
Since we have no nuclear power plants, price for electricity directly depends on price for oil and natural gas. Don't be so optimistic. Also keep in count price for maintaining railway infrastructure and its depending from oil market.

Just think of the Christmas time when Russian tourist hordes land in Tallinn.
This happens only for a few weeks a year. Any other time trains can't be an alternative without huge subsidies.

If for anything, RB is only going to be for cargo, not passengers.
We haven't enough freight traffic exactly on the planned RB route to replace trucks with trains, I think.

Rebasepoiss

October 4th, 2011, 05:43 PM

^^ Erm, the price of electricity in Estonia has little to do with natural gas or oil. We mainly use oil shale for producing electricity while the Finns use nuclear power, the Swedes use nuclear and hydro, the Norwegians use Hydro.

BTW, a major reason why railway routes need subsidies is because operators have to pay rather large fees to use the railway lines while bus companies pay nothing to use the road infrastructure. This also goes for trucks vs. freight trains.

But anyways, all of you who are negative about the whole thing....can you show some data to prove your arguments? Otherwise this is a pointless discussion.

Edela

October 4th, 2011, 07:28 PM

a major reason why railway routes need subsidies is because operators have to pay rather large fees to use the railway lines while bus companies pay nothing to use the road infrastructure
How about operational costs of rolling stock? Fuel consumption? By the way, one ride on TEP70 from Tallinn to Narva costs 1,5 tons of diesel fuel. How many passengers you can drive for a single run? The fact is train to Petersburg always run empty for a third or a half, excepting christmas holydays. Sadly, there is no fixed cost of one operational hour/distance for TEP70 and cars, but it is much bigger than for buses. Even if you cancel all fees, trains can't be used for a same price as buses. That the reason why we loosing train to Petersburg every few years. We have no so much passengers there.
The same situation with RB. Total utopia for a state with less than 1,5 million of residents.
It's better to build nuclear power plant, it will bring much more profit...

Kurivaim

October 4th, 2011, 10:23 PM

BTW, a major reason why railway routes need subsidies is because operators have to pay rather large fees to use the railway lines while bus companies pay nothing to use the road infrastructure. This also goes for trucks vs. freight trains.

But anyways, all of you who are negative about the whole thing....can you show some data to prove your arguments? Otherwise this is a pointless discussion.

you are right about the infrastructure costs. They are a lot higher for railways. For a good reason (it is more expensive to build and maintain, even with such low usage). We have to consider alternative costs - we can't do without a proper highway (i would like to see a government saying they won't maintain Via Baltica) which means it ANYway takes a lot of costs, that car and bus users are also willing to pay for with gas excise (and dont say that this is something that train is also paying). If this cost is anyway there, why not take the max out of it? And not spend double?

About scientific proof you are absolutely right. There is no scientific proof today for either theory. This study made by AeCom is hypothetical (it will be feable if there is at least 3500 passangers etc etc), not scientifical. Why haven't we got one? Well, who wants to know the bad news? ;)

Rebasepoiss

October 5th, 2011, 10:35 AM

Alseimik

October 5th, 2011, 06:21 PM

Maadeuurija

October 6th, 2011, 08:33 PM

Does anybody know if there are plans to increase elektriraudtee frequencies? Just asking cause after reading a book "elektriraudtee eestimaal: alates 1924" i found out that trains in the 1930's were running 24/7 every half an hour during the day and every hour during the night between Balti jaam and Pääsküla.

Rebasepoiss

October 6th, 2011, 11:07 PM

^^ I think new trains will increase frequencies but I guess the service will never be as frequent as it was back in the 30s when Pääsküla-Tallinn line carried 10 million passengers a year.

Tin_Can

October 7th, 2011, 10:12 PM

^^
Elektriraudtee has semi-officially stated that they will increase frequencies,once new trains arrive. It ain't a big secret,that they barely manage to service current frequency,because of rolling stock shortage :D

Port Of Sillamäe has bought TEM TMX locomotive.

Port of Sillamäe has bought Lithuanian made TEM TMX shunting locomotive and has become the first foreign company to do that. Sillamäe port is also negotiating an option of buying second TEM TMX shunter. Port's CEO said that they considered several options,but finally chose Lithuanian made locomotive,as it had best price/quality ratio.

Sillamäe TEM TMX is high powered shunter with 1550 kW Caterpillar engine (slightly more powerful than Lietuvos Geležinkeliai TEM TMX's)
It's is able to pull 7,000 tons.
Cost of shunter: 1,9 million euros

TEM TMX locomotive is joint production of Vilnius Locomotive Repair Depot (Lithuania),CZ Loko (Czech) and Transmasholding (Russia)

Delivery ceremony in Lithuania. You can see that locomotive has standard red colour scheme and only Port of Sillamäe stickers set it apart from Lithuanian counterparts.
http://www.obzor.lt/images/news/6/2011_10_05/pic9_big.jpg

Example (not Port of Sillamäe locomotive)
http://www.tmholding.ru/upload/medialibrary/75e/75eddbf0ca07fe2171ed2ee5dd4b9e29.jpg

Sources: http://logistikauudised.ee/article/2011/10/7/sillamae-sadam-ostab-veduri-leedu-firmalt-mille-eesti-raudtee-hankes-valja-praakis
http://www.obzor.lt/news/n3328.html

pets

October 7th, 2011, 10:51 PM

nice and new =)

Kurivaim

October 8th, 2011, 12:10 AM

Sorry but building a railway is not more expensive than building a road. A simple comparison:

Lahden Oikorata in Finland is a 220km/h electrified double-track railway. Cost: € 4.4 million/km.
Aruvalla-Kose I class (2x2) highway in Estonia. Cost: € 4 million/km.

I've never said that we should invest huge amounts of money into Tallinn - St. Petersburg connection. Upgrading the line to 160km/h doesn't require that much money (mostly signalling) and if you perform the border checks on board, it would become a lot faster than buses. The reason why nobody took the train before was because the buses were faster and cheaper. A faster connection would also increase the total number of passengers not just "steal" the current passengers from buses.

Speed is not the only argument why people choose buses (either on st.petersburg, Tartu or Riga direction). It's also the frequency. If train only goes twice a day, people will find the option that suits best their personal time schedule.
But I have to agree that Petersburg line could be most probable one to open, although it very much depends on russian and estonian border cooperation and indfrastructure on russian side. Because international lines cannot be subsidized by law, it only has to be feasable from ticket revenue. And that's what makes it so hard to operate. Especially, considering the quality bus operators like Eurolines Lux Ekspress and Hansabuss offer.

Maadeuurija

October 8th, 2011, 12:22 AM

The TEM TMX has been already deliverd, picture of it in Rakvere (http://gallery.balticrailpics.net/displayimage.php?pos=-21755)

ArtManDoo

October 8th, 2011, 12:44 PM

you are right about the infrastructure costs. They are a lot higher for railways. For a good reason (it is more expensive to build and maintain, even with such low usage). We have to consider alternative costs - we can't do without a proper highway (i would like to see a government saying they won't maintain Via Baltica) which means it ANYway takes a lot of costs, that car and bus users are also willing to pay for with gas excise (and dont say that this is something that train is also paying). If this cost is anyway there, why not take the max out of it? And not spend double?

You are good example of what makes uncompetent Estonian media and politicians. Estonia seems to be just a big uncompetence. Don't get me wrong, I understand that your transportation vision is based on Estonian politicians sayings and on Estonian media. OOOOOhhhh, if Estonia continues like that, then soon all youngs go away. Road transport is heavily subsided. People who ride by bike pay also for them who drive cars. Fuel tax only covers the costs of national roads. All streets are mintained and renewed from taxpayer money, not gas tax. For example in Switzerland if people want to renew local road then a part of costs must be covered by themselves(from their salary, not collected by taxes) and other part comes from taxes(not from gas tax).

Railway maintain and renewal per tonn/km is at least 15 times cheaper as for road.

Upgrading railway to 200km/h is cheaper than upgrading 1 + 1 road into 2 + 2 road(110km/h in summer, 90km/h in winter).

Lets go further:
Speeds over 90km/h as useless for people who don't have driving licence as buses can't go over 90. People under 18 are not allowed to have driving licence. So speeds over 90km/h need a driving licence and a car. 200km/h trains can be used by everibody no matter if you are 12 or 82.

And even further:

In Europe, it is some 20-25 times safer to travel by rail than road, making rail significantly safer than road.

U.S. cities with high quality rail transit systems have 36% lower per capita traffic fatalities (7.5 versus 11.7 annual deaths per 100,000 residents)

For a peak-period transit trip, the roadway space and time required for an auto passenger may be 25 times greater than for a bus passenger and 60 times greater than for a rail transit passenger.

Traveling by rail is on average three to 10 times less CO2-intensive compared to road or air transport.

Emissions of CO2 per person-kilometre (pkm) from cars have seen a reduction of only 13 percent since 1995, whereas the CO2 record of rail passengers has improved by 21 percent in the same period.

In total, the road sector is responsible
for over 80% of external cost damage; the airline sector for nearly 15%;
the railways for just under 2%. (in Western Europe 2004)

Here is an EcoCalculator where you can try:
http://ecopassenger.hafas.de/bin/query.exe/en?L=vs_railteam

TRAINS SOLVE MANY SERIOUS PROBLEMS FACING SOCIETY
A New Train network is the most effective way to curb sprawl, and goes hand in hand with smart growth, creating livable communities, economic sustainability, environmental protection, human rights, and sustainable community design. When planned together with compact, walkable forms of development, trains solve many serious problems facing society.

For Estonians freedom seems to mean that they have freedom to park their cities full of cars and freedom to turn their cities into tarmac fields. No it isn't sustainable society.

Your vision of transportation is in 60s. Other world will repair their mistakes maid in 60s, Estonians want to make these mistakes also:

http://www.infrastructurist.com/2009/08/04/7-urban-freeways-to-tear-down-today-and-what-tomorrow-might-look-like-if-we-do/

And estonians are willing to pay about 1 300 000 000 EEK to build Ülemiste junction! And they are willing to pay for põhjaväil and etc....??

Milwaukee has done something that might seem astounding, perhaps even un-American, and that is to tear down a superhighway. Why? Because rebuilding the 30-year-old structure would have cost $100 million. Tearing it down and replacing it with a street cost about $25 million.
In 2000, the county, state, and city agreed to remove most of the half-mile long Park East Freeway and develop the land. The estimated property value increase has been over $250 million.

Rebasepoiss

October 8th, 2011, 01:11 PM

^^ :applause: for a great reply!

Maadeuurija

October 8th, 2011, 03:35 PM

:applause: indeed

Tin_Can

October 8th, 2011, 06:15 PM

This month's Tehnikamaailm magazine has article about about new Stadler trains. You can read the short verison of it here (http://www.tehnikamaailm.ee/est/tm/2011/10/?headerID=2289). Most of the information in it was published before in various other sources,but one thing was interesting:

Tellitud Flirt-rongid hakkavad sõitma olemasoleval rööbasteel kiirusega 120 km/h. Miks mitte enam? Rööbastee taha asi ei jää, ent suuremate kiiruste kasutamiseks tuleks teha rida muutusi muus infrastruktuuris, eeskätt peaksid kaduma tõkkepuudeta ülesõidukohad. Miks seda kohe ei tehta? Maiste asjade arengut juhivad paraku majanduslikud võimalused. Kui leitakse raha nende asjade korda tegemiseks, võiks sõidukiirus kasvada kuni 160, kohati ka 200 km/h.

Which are those sections,which could be upgraded to 200km/h top speed limit?

Tin_Can

October 9th, 2011, 02:43 PM

Few photos of Port of Sillamäe TEM TMX:

Exterior
http://www.litrail.lt/wps/wcm/connect/e1c15080488453dd8be2cf62c5444e85/silumvezis_1.jpg?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=e1c15080488453dd8be2cf62c5444e85

Interior
http://www.litrail.lt/wps/wcm/connect/e4d824804884537c8bdecf62c5444e85/silumvezis_2.jpg?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=e4d824804884537c8bdecf62c5444e85

void0

October 9th, 2011, 07:00 PM

Few photos of Port of Sillamäe TME TMX:

TEM TMX

His Russian brother http://www.tmholding.ru/products/manevrovye_teplovozy/tem_tmkh.html

Tin_Can

October 9th, 2011, 09:50 PM

Sry,fixed the spelling mistake.

estlander

October 11th, 2011, 11:10 AM

I went to Suurgildi History Museum in Tallinn Old Town - definitly worth to go there. And I found this nice picture:

"Tallinn-China passenger train" back of dudes in Tallinn Railway Station. Yes, its China not Hiiu or smth.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6234/6233954062_0bf047d047.jpg

Here a bit more of Railway Station main building:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6177/6233430917_0be39520a0_z.jpg

Tin_Can

October 11th, 2011, 03:34 PM

^^

I don't think it's central train station - all of them have been stone buildings,but this is wooden building and it seems to be bit further away from tracks. My guess is that it's some (now demolished) railway workers building in place of current maakonnaliinide bus station adjacent to central train station. Railway tracks continued there to passenger harbour (in these day they end next to Skoone bastion) and central train station was not the final station on that line...

Anyway,here's awesome postcard (not mine,sadly :D) of it during it's heyday in early 1900s :drool: Damn Soviets and their lack of respect towards historic buildings...
http://i52.tinypic.com/a4x1mo.jpg

Maadeuurija

October 11th, 2011, 11:02 PM

^^

I don't think it's central train station - all of them have been stone buildings,

picture seems from 1890's to 1905's
It could be
OT: in other news the Estonia football team made it to the Euro 2012 playoffs :cheers:

manrush

October 12th, 2011, 01:03 AM

Rebasepoiss

October 13th, 2011, 12:49 PM

2 very nice videos of Estonian railways:

Pechory-Tartu line, Orava-Tartu section. 05.2011
efBSxCrpvGU

Narva-Tallinn line, Püssi-Tallinn section. 10.2011
H3Uwwc9e5js

Helstein

October 13th, 2011, 02:17 PM

Awesome videos ;)

Tin_Can

October 13th, 2011, 02:59 PM

Great find,Rebasepoiss! :happy:

Btw,on second video between 8:48 & 8:50,you can get a rare glimpse at Tallinn's railway rescue train - one of two rescue trains in Estonia (second one is stationed in Tapa).

Rebasepoiss

October 13th, 2011, 06:32 PM

I found the videos from http://foorum.msts.pri.ee/ aka the Estonian railways forum.

Maadeuurija

October 14th, 2011, 11:15 PM

Made some pictures on my way to home
they are installing new pedestrian crossings
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k633/taniel0401/Tapa%20jaama%20update/DSC01539-1.jpg
progress on Tartu side platform
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k633/taniel0401/Tapa%20jaama%20update/DSC01540-1.jpg
progress on Narva side platform
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k633/taniel0401/Tapa%20jaama%20update/DSC01536.jpg
the tent around the steam locomotive has removed and revealed the shiny new coat of paint that the loco got
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k633/taniel0401/Tapa%20jaama%20update/DSC01533-1.jpg
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k633/taniel0401/Tapa%20jaama%20update/DSC01531-1.jpg
Rest of the pictures here (http://s1119.photobucket.com/albums/k633/taniel0401/Tapa%20jaama%20update/)

Tin_Can

October 15th, 2011, 12:13 AM

Nice! Steam engine looks like it's ready to roll out :)

Here's one photo by me - taken yesterday in Tallinn's central station:
http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/Raudhunt/IMG_1396_pano.jpg

As far as I can tell,workers were cleaning up tracks surroundings between Kitseküla & central train station,using this C36 powered train and hi-rail excavator.

Tin_Can

October 15th, 2011, 10:39 PM

Edelaraudtee Infrastruktuuri AS opens new Männiku railway crossing.

On this Saturday Edelaraudtee Infrastruktuuri AS will permanently close 2 railway crossings in Männiku,Southern Tallinn (on kilometres 14,599 and 11,788) and opens brand new railway crossing between them (on kilometre 13,179)

New crossing is lot safer and has warning signalling system and was necessary as Edelaraudtee plans to raise top speeds on Männiku railway section to 120km/h. Both old railway crossings (used for access to/from quarries in Männiku) are dangerous and have been sites for several deadly accidents,when passenger trains have collided with trucks.

New railway crossing construction costed 63000 euros (bargain!)

Source: http://logistikauudised.ee/article/2011/9/30/edelaraudtee-annab-kaiku-uue-manniku-raudteeulesoidu

For reminder - last two Männiku accidents with casualties:
In 2009
http://f.postimees.ee/f/2009/11/21/270107t44ha9c0.jpg

In 2010
http://www.liiklus.ee/components/Catalog/pics/1271403632/0.jpg

And here it is:
http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/Raudhunt/IMG_1414_pano.jpg

New crossing is about 500m South of Männiku station (you can see it on the right side of this photo). Click on the photo for larger view.
http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/Raudhunt/IMG_1417_pano.jpg (http://i52.tinypic.com/23tryuw.jpg)

http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/Raudhunt/IMG_1427_pano.jpg

And two closed crossings - the one on Saku side.
http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/Raudhunt/IMG_1405.jpg

And on Tallinn side.
http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/Raudhunt/IMG_1433.jpg

Alseimik

October 15th, 2011, 10:47 PM

^^ Oh god that was faster than i expected, was it just painted or fully maintained?!

Maadeuurija

October 15th, 2011, 11:08 PM

still no barriers :ohno:

^^ Oh god that was faster than i expected, was it just painted or fully maintained?!
what do you mean?

Tin_Can

October 16th, 2011, 12:51 AM

^^ Oh god that was faster than i expected, was it just painted or fully maintained?!

Hehee,our construction workers aren't super humans - they had that crossing already U/C (probably since late summer),when the news article was released.
Railway crossing and access road were built from scratch to whole new location.

pets

October 16th, 2011, 12:55 AM

maybe he means that train?

but anyway... our DR1A-312 passinger trains are kinda good maintained, clean and nice but not rebuilded or something. Manufactured (if i remember correctly) 1984-88' (thouse what we use). 120km/h is typical max speed what they use on lines, technically (not officialy) they can do more, atleast 140km/h.

one nice video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxvBfXIWd3M (i'm not author ^^ )

Maadeuurija

October 16th, 2011, 11:00 AM

or maybe he ment the steam locomotive in Tapa?
anyway the steam locomotivive tapa, was just painted and bigger holes were fixed

Tin_Can

October 18th, 2011, 12:51 AM

Photo update of Ülemiste station platforms reconstruction works. Yay,they have moved the new platform on direction exiting the city next to pedestrian bridge! :banana: There's a faint hope,that they will build new stairs from pedestrian bridge to new platform.

http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/Raudhunt/IMG_1439_pano.jpg

http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/Raudhunt/IMG_1449.jpg

http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/Raudhunt/IMG_1458_pano.jpg

http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/Raudhunt/IMG_1463_pano.jpg

+ small bonus showing how messy and obscure life has become because of all those reconstruction works. Okay,ordinary electric train picking up passengers,you might think...
http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/Raudhunt/IMG_1480.jpg

...except this isn't Aegviidu-Tallinn train,but Tallinn-Aegviidu train (if you don't believe me,then check the train lights) :D If you don't get the odd situation - electric train going to Aegviidu is on the "wrong side" and has stopped next to station platform on direction heading to city.
http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/Raudhunt/IMG_1479.jpg

Tin_Can

October 18th, 2011, 01:22 AM

Edelaraudtee plans to add more wagons to passenger trains.

Because of rapidly rising number of passengers Edelaraudtee plans to add more wagons to their trains during rush hours. Previously passengers have had to stand on Tallinn-Tartu train,as there wasn't enough seats for them. Increase of passenger numbers was caused by train service being more competitive and cheaper than bus service.
Edelaraudtee add new wagons as soon as they become available in their depots (in another words - they will have to scavenge the wreck yard in Tallinn-Väike,which is full of rusting DR1A diesel trains)

Source: http://majandus.delfi.ee/news/uudised/suur-reisijate-hulk-sunnib-edelaraudteed-lisama-vaguneid.d?id=59957071
________________________________________

Edelaraudtee serviced record number of passengers.

Within first nine months of 2011 Edelaraudtee has serviced close to 1371486 passengers (2,4% increase,compared to last year's same period).
In September alone 157 000 passengers used Edelaraudtee trains (company's best result in last 4 years time)

Top lines:
Tallinn-Türi-Viljand: 471571 passengers
Tallinn-Tartu-Valga: 439914 passengers
Tallinn-Rapla-Pärnu: 293688 passengers
Tallinn-Tapa-Narva: 137839 passengers
Tartu-Koidula: 28474 passengers

Source: http://www.neljas.ee/est/?news=1010853
________________________________________

Elektriraudtee passenger numbers continue falling.

Within first nine months of 2011,Elektriraudtee has serviced 2,15 million passengers (3,2% decrease,compared to last year's same period)
Despite that Elektriraudtee managed to increase profits to 1,7 million euros (+1,7%)
Elektriraudtee result was seriously affected by railway reconstruction works in Tallinn city and Tallinn-Aegviidu line.

________________________________________

Oh,and EVR Infra is buying several new Hi-Rail vehicles :)

Tin_Can

October 18th, 2011, 02:34 AM

EVR Infra AS Tallinna Päästerong (Tallinn's railway rescue train)

Click on the photo for larger view.
http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/Raudhunt/IMG_1509_pano.jpg (http://i51.tinypic.com/2lwrkt1.jpg)

http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/Raudhunt/IMG_1521.jpg

http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/Raudhunt/IMG_1543.jpg

http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/Raudhunt/IMG_1538.jpg

chornedsnorkack

October 18th, 2011, 08:17 AM

Tin_Can

October 18th, 2011, 08:11 PM

Are any end wagons/additional trainsets available from the said wreck yard?
There's plenty of wagons to pick from (5 tracks in Tallinn-Väike depot are full of DR1's in various conditions),but I think the situation with DR1A engine heads is bit more grim - there are several standing in Tallinn-Väike,but many of them have been scavenged for spare parts.

Tallinn-Väike today:
http://i56.tinypic.com/oqcg08.jpg

http://i51.tinypic.com/vgh5cz.jpg

Tin_Can

October 19th, 2011, 01:50 AM

I bumped into interesting reading material on Tehnilise Järelvalve Amet website. This is full list of all Estonian registered railway equipment as of 31.12.2010 (might be bit out of date by now) and includes everything - Eesti Raudtee,Edelaraudtee,Elektriraudtee,E.R.S. AS,Leonhard Weiss RTE,stevedore companies etc. rolling stock and other railway related information.

Railways: 2167km (of that,1540km are public railways)
Locomotives: 319
Passenger wagons: 67 (like those blue wagons used by GoRail)
Freight wagons: 17358
Special equipment: 97*
Special purpose rolling stock: 24*
EMU wagons: 55 (incl.engine cars)
DMU wagons: 95 (incl.engine cars)
Locomotive drivers licence: 599 persons

*either one of those are hyrail equipment and other is snow ploughs,construction vehicles etc. I'm not sure which is which or what's the specific difference between Eriveerem and Eriotstarbeline veerem.

chornedsnorkack

October 19th, 2011, 08:07 PM

DMU wagons: 95 (incl.engine cars)

And only 60 replacements are coming.

Those 95 are not even enough.

manrush

October 19th, 2011, 08:39 PM

There's plenty of wagons to pick from (5 tracks in Tallinn-Väike depot are full of DR1's in various conditions),but I think the situation with DR1A engine heads is bit more grim - there are several standing in Tallinn-Väike,but many of them have been scavenged for spare parts.

Tallinn-Väike today:
http://i56.tinypic.com/oqcg08.jpg

http://i51.tinypic.com/vgh5cz.jpg
They could convert some of those wagons into coach stock for push/pull locomotive operations, as was the fate of a lot of RDCs across the pond.

Rebasepoiss

October 19th, 2011, 08:47 PM

And only 60 replacements are coming.

Those 95 are not even enough.
Most of those 95 are not in operation.

Tin_Can

October 19th, 2011, 09:27 PM

And only 60 replacements are coming.

Those 95 are not even enough.
My guess it that atleast half of DR1A's are not in running condition,but I agree that all those new Stadlers might not be enough for Estonian needs. They cover the need for servicing lines,so first few years will be problem free. However,there might not be enough trains in reserve,once those trains get old and have bigger need for extensive maintenance. So probably another batch of passenger trains will be bought in next 10 years time.
They could convert some of those wagons into coach stock for push/pull locomotive operations, as was the fate of a lot of RDCs across the pond.
There isn't much need for it right now,as St.Petersburg line is still closed and local lines can be served ordinary DMU's + we lack suitable passenger train locomotives (handful of TEP-70s,which we have,aren't exactly most reliable or efficient things in the world)

Tallinn-Riga and Tallinn-St.Petersburg lines feasibility study is under way,so soon there should be some clarity about the need for renovating such passenger wagons (or buying new ones...or buying entire new trains :P)

________________________________________

Few photos of Ülemiste freight yard in Tallinn.

http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/Raudhunt/IMG_1527.jpg

Click on the photo for larger view.
http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/Raudhunt/IMG_1535_pano.jpg (http://i53.tinypic.com/sx0sj9.jpg)

Click on the photo for larger view.
http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/Raudhunt/IMG_1544_pano.jpg (http://i54.tinypic.com/r2rl2r.jpg)

Future of our railways,if you will. :D
http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/xx332/Raudhunt/IMG_1549.jpg