Track gauge in Estonia

Estonia mainly uses a track gauge of 1,520 mm (4 ft 11 ²⁷⁄₃₂ in) (Russian gauge), inherited from the Russian Empire times.

Russian Gauge

Soviet Union

Since Estonia converted relatively late from the Soviet Unions redefinition of the gauge from 1,524 mm (5 ft) to 1,520 mm (4 ft 11 ²⁷⁄₃₂ in), there are still some sections of 1,524 mm gauge left.

Post-independence

Estonia after independence redefined its track gauge to 1,524 mm following Finland's technical specifications, though the countries do not share a border.^[1] The redefinitions did not mean that a lot of actual railways or rolling stock were changed. It was more a rule change regarding new and renovated tracks.

Standard gauge proposals

There has been a proposal from the EU to build a standard gauge railway from Tallinn to Warsaw, the Rail Baltica. For cost reasons the current plans only see an upgrade of the existing Russian gauge railway to Lithuania over Riga, a new railway through Lithuania, and upgrade through Poland. It will have standard gauge only south of Kaunas, Lithuania, not in Estonia.

Narrow gauge

Historically Estonia had 750 mm (2 ft 5 ¹⁄₂ in) narrow gauge installations.

Tallinn has tram with 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge.

References