Valga County residents will have access to a temporary bus service between Valga and Tartu starting March 1st, following disruptions to train schedules caused by the launch of a direct train route connecting Tartu to Riga in January 2025. The service, agreed upon by the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture and Valga County officials, aims to mitigate inconvenience for commuters affected by the changes, according to a report from Newsdirectory3.com.
The introduction of the Riga connection prompted adjustments to the Valga-Tartu train schedule, resulting in a two-hour delay for one morning train on Friday, February 13th. While the Riga route is an extension of the Tallinn–Valga line, the timetable alterations impacted local service. “Local government leaders and our people point out that since we have fewer residents here, the number of passengers is also going to be smaller. Every person is important and ought to be taken into account,” stated Ivar Unt, head of the Valga County Public Transport Center.
The bus service will depart Valga in the morning, arriving in Tartu at 8:45 a.m., serving the same locations previously accessible by train. The trial period will run until June 10th, coinciding with the end of the school break. Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture Hendrik Johannes Terras (Eesti 200) indicated the initiative is a pilot program, with potential for continuation pending its success. “If the line is successful, we will continue with it until People can bring the trains back at the same times they ran at before they were taken away,” Terras said.
Passenger numbers on the Valga-Tartu route were already relatively low prior to the Riga connection, with fewer than 30 passengers boarding at Valga station in November and an average of 37 arriving in Tartu, according to Elron statistics. The direct train between Tartu and Riga, which began operating a month ago, has seen an average of under 30 passengers per trip, though ticket sales in Latvia have only recently commenced. Elron Board Chair Lauri Betlem noted that passenger numbers are expected to increase over time, with some days already seeing over 30 passengers boarding in Riga.
Looking ahead, Valga Mayor Mart Kase anticipates improvements to the Valga-Tartu service with the introduction of modern electric trains by Elron in 2027. “We will have seven connections instead of five, and there will also be a train returning that arrives in Tartu at 9 a.m.,” Kase stated. He described the increased connectivity as “a huge win for Valga,” potentially attracting residents and facilitating commutes to Tartu.
However, infrastructure renovations planned by Eesti Raudtee this summer are expected to cause further disruptions to both the Valga and Riga connections from Tartu. The timing of these repairs could impact service throughout the peak travel season.