ESTONIA | Railways | Raudteed

[Tin_Can]

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/artic...-konteinerrong

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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/...tatakse-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]

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]

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 Are they stil in operation or were withdrawn and scrapped?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

[xkala1x]

C30 are withdrawn but not scrapped(conservated @Kopli station)

[Tin_Can]

Originally Posted by ilyan

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 Are they stil in operation or were withdrawn and scrapped?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,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 They bought 2 new 2TE116 locomotive's in 2005-2006.

[Tin_Can]

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







Source: http://www.tallinnapostimees.ee/4963...ee-uuendamine/

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

[Rebasepoiss]

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]

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

[Rebasepoiss]

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]

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.

Originally Posted by Rebasepoiss

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? )

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]

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.

[Tin_Can]

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.

[IMG]http://i53.************/71s11j.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i51.************/r10nz4.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i56.************/eaipzo.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i51.************/2akrc7.jpg[/IMG]

+ bonus pic of ER electric trains.
[IMG]http://i51.************/4jrhuo.jpg[/IMG]

[Tin_Can]

Photo update of Ülemiste station platforms reconstruction works.

[IMG]http://i53.************/5lyt1i.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i51.************/245egyb.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i56.************/sazddg.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i52.************/27xp550.jpg[/IMG]

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.

[pzlotnik]

Very nice sheds mounted on the platforms.

[Tin_Can]

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]

Worth being reposted here as well:

Originally Posted by Rebasepoiss

A few photos of the brand new Koidula border station:





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.




The station building.

Originally Posted by Tin_Can

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]

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

[Tin_Can]

Railway repairs in Nõmme station in Tallinn.

Railway repairs are going on from 3rd to 5th August,on each night (poor locals! ) 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.

[Rebasepoiss]

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]

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.