Winter timetable brings direct Rakvere–Tartu rail connection

From Monday, 31 August, Elron switches to its winter timetable, which brings changes across all directions of travel. For the first time, a direct Rakvere–Tartu connection is also being introduced.

"The winter timetable takes into account the commuting to work and school that resumes in September," said Kristi Unt, Head of Customer Experience at Elron. "The new timetable restores express trains on the western route, Viljandi gains one additional departure per day, and we are bringing express trains back to the southwestern route. Although large-scale infrastructure works are taking place on the railway between Tapa and Tartu, these affect travel times between Tallinn and Tartu less than before, and a good connection between the cities is ensured."

The biggest change on the southern route (Tallinn–Tartu) concerns the first morning train (service 101/141 in the current timetable, departing Tartu at 5:43, arriving in Tallinn at 8:14), which will depart later than before (departing Tartu at 6:52, arriving in Tallinn at 9:35).

On the eastern route, departures are more evenly distributed than before. "In the direction of Aegviidu and Tapa, the interval between regular trains during peak hours will in future be approximately 45 minutes, instead of the previous hour and a half," said Unt. "The Rakvere–Tallinn train will in future involve a transfer at Tapa to the Tapa–Tallinn train. At the same time, a direct connection between Rakvere and Tartu is being created for the first time, in the early morning and late evening."

Winter timetable for passenger trains from 31 August 2026

Western route (Tallinn – Keila/Turba/Paldiski/Kloogaranna)

• Express trains are restored (Turba–Tallinn, Tallinn–Paldiski, Tallinn–Keila–Tallinn) as they were before 15 June.

Southwestern route (Tallinn – Rapla/Türi/Viljandi)

• An additional departure is added to the Viljandi line (the Türi line is extended to Viljandi), creating a previously missing afternoon connection (Tallinn–Viljandi, service 301, departing at 14:17; Viljandi–Tallinn, service 302, departing at 15:16).
• The day's second Viljandi–Tallinn departure (at 7:23) becomes an express train, with a travel time of 1 hour and 52 minutes, offering a connection time that is competitive compared to travelling by car.
  In cooperation with the Viljandi County Public Transport Centre, feeder service from the Olustvere area to the train is ensured by county bus to Võhma station (line 58A, departing Olustvere at 7:25, arriving at Võhma station at 7:37; the train departs at 7:42).
  In cooperation with the North Estonian Public Transport Centre (IIL), feeder service to the train is ensured for the Käru, Lelle, Kehtna and Keava areas by county bus to Rapla station (line 11, arriving at Rapla railway station at 8:12; the train departs at 8:25).
• The Tallinn–Viljandi express train departs at 16:28, travel time 1 h 56 min.

Eastern route (Tallinn – Aegviidu/Tapa/Rakvere/Narva)

• In the direction of Aegviidu and Tapa, departures are more evenly distributed; during peak hours the interval between regular trains is approximately 45 minutes, instead of the previous up to an hour and a half.
• The morning Rakvere–Tallinn departure (service 231/241, departing at 5:45) will in future involve a transfer at Tapa.
• A direct Rakvere–Tartu connection is added (service 231/100, departing Rakvere at 5:45, arriving in Tartu at 8:14) and, late in the evening, Tartu–Rakvere (service 107/230, departing Tartu at 22:02, arriving in Rakvere at 00:13).

Southern route (Tallinn – Tartu/Valga/Koidula)

• The day's first service (no. 101) departs Tartu later than before (at 6:52) and reaches Tallinn at 9:35. A connection is still ensured with an arrival from Tapa at 7:07 reaching the capital at 8:23. From Tamsalu, feeder service to the train is ensured in cooperation with the North Estonian Public Transport Centre (IIL) by county bus (line no. 53, departing Tamsalu at 6:30).
• Travel time on services between Tallinn and Tartu is extended by approximately 20 minutes due to AS Eesti Raudtee infrastructure works on the Tapa–Tartu railway section.

See the winter timetable at here 

Elron (AS Eesti Liinirongid) is a state-owned operating company that organises passenger rail traffic on the railway owned by AS Eesti Raudtee and AS Edelaraudtee. In 2025, 7.66 million journeys were made on Elron trains.