Electric train traffic enters new era

Photo: Heiki Rebane/BNS

Launch of new electric train brings large crowds of onlookers to Tallinn’s Balti Train Station, and Keila – the destination.

It has been long since so many people have crowded the Balti station short trip platforms as at mid-day, yesterday. The magnet being Stadler Flirt, the first new train sent into service by Elektriraudtee AS.

During July, all old trains will give way to Stadler’s orange beauties. With state support, a total of 38 such trains are coming to Estonia.

At the launch, Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications Juhan Parts stated that the five-years-long toil of many people has herewith achieved an intermediate result: «The investment makes sense if Estonians, as passengers, embrace these trains. And not only those who have used trains anyway, but we would actually love to see a marked increase of train travellers. Then it may be said that the investment really makes sense,» said Mr Parts.

The minister was also honoured with the opportunity to reveal the train’s name. Namely, Elektriraudtee is reviving the old tradition of christening each and every train. «If, in 1869, a train named Peeter I was launched in this very location, then today we are dispatching Kegel. By this, we will honour the Keila train station as the largest stop we have,» said Norbert Kaareste, marketing manager for Elektriraudtee AS.

On the lips of those getting into the train to adore its insides, superlatives abounded. With it, a worry of sorts was expressed: «These trains are so new and beautiful and expensive. I guess now the ticket price goes up as well,» reckoned Helmi Leet, a pensioner. The thought had, indeed, crossed many minds.

According to the Elektriraudtee marketing man, for the time being, there needs to be no fear. «This year, we are not planning to alter the price list. As for next year, it is not known yet. But our initial aim is to increase the amount of passengers, and that could not be accomplished with large price leaps,» said Mr Kaareste.

At 12:05 pm, the train got rolling. Up to the very last moment, the staff was in the dark whether to sell tickets or not. With the train already leaving the station, it was announced that at the maiden trip, no ticket money will be cashed in. While most everybody rejoiced, a couple of faces fell – an elderly gentleman, for instance, having boarded the train with the dream of obtaining a ticket, as a keepsake.

Due to repairs of tracks, the train moved slowly. Destined to arrive in Keila at 12:55 pm, it was six minutes late.

Evidently, the new doors will take some getting used to. To open these, a button needs to be pressed. And the doors tend to close quite fast. The railwaymen were quick to comfort those tempted to be disappointed: the door being uncomfortable only when tried out by the curious, slipping in and out. At routine routes, all is allegedly much easier, and no doubt folks will get used to the buttons.

There is no need to fear getting caught in the doors, they said: there are sensors installed that keep this from ever happening.