Eesti Raudtee, Estonia’s railway infrastructure manager, and Elron, the national passenger rail operator, are testing the railway system’s response capabilities in the event of a drone threat. The exercise includes stopping trains on several sections and simulating the start of passenger evacuation.
The Estonian railway companies Eesti Raudtee and Elron are participating in a national test of the EE-ALARM public alert system, organized by the Estonian Emergency Management Agency. In parallel with the national test, the two companies are conducting a joint, real-time operational exercise for the scenario of a possible drone threat.
The exercise aims to test the chain of command and response capabilities in situations where rail traffic must be stopped quickly and train staff must be prepared to protect passengers.
As part of the national test, alarm sirens are activated throughout Estonia, and the public receives SMS notifications. Eesti Raudtee and Elron are using this opportunity to test railway procedures on routes in the eastern and southern parts of the country.
Train Stops on Four Sections
Upon receiving the alert, dispatchers at the Eesti Raudtee control center issue a stop order for trains currently in service on four sections. Trains are stopped at the first available station or stop.
The sections covered by the exercise are Tapa–Narva, Tapa–Tartu, Tartu–Valga, and Tartu–Koidula.
During the stop, Elron train operators simulate the start of the train evacuation. The stop lasts no more than two minutes, after which service resumes immediately upon the dispatcher’s verbal order.
Eesti Raudtee notes that the exercise is controlled and poses no danger to passengers. Train staff will make announcements on board during the stop, and the impact on the schedule is expected to be minimal.
Drones, a new risk to rail safety
Marius Kupper, responsible for operational continuity at Eesti Raudtee, stated that strengthening resilience in crisis situations is an ongoing process. The test follows the “Raudne Rütm” continuity exercise, held in May.
“Increasing resilience in crisis situations is an ongoing process. Following the ‘Raudne Rütm’ continuity exercise, successfully conducted in May, the national test is the next step for us to practice cooperation with Elron in a situation where fractions of a second can determine people’s safety. During the exercise, we simulate a drone threat that requires immediate sheltering,” he said.
Madis Koll, Elron’s safety officer, noted that a rapid and well-coordinated response is critical for railway safety, including in the face of unconventional threats such as drones.
According to him, the exercise allows for real-time verification of how the decision-making chain functions in conjunction with the infrastructure manager in a situation where rail traffic must be immediately halted due to a drone threat.
“The drone threat represents a new type of risk—for example, delays in critical information, incorrect decisions regarding the suspension of rail traffic, or insufficient preparation of train staff for passenger evacuation,” said Madis Koll.
He added that the purpose of the exercise is to identify these vulnerabilities and address them before real-life situations arise.
The exercise takes place in the context of ILVES 2026
The joint exercise by railway companies is taking place during the same week as ILVES 2026, a large-scale civil defense and national resilience exercise in Estonia. Approximately 130 institutions and companies are participating in preparations for crisis management.
The Estonian Emergency Management Agency has also asked residents, companies, and institutions to use the national drill to assess their own capabilities and level of preparedness for potential crises.
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