On 17 April 2025, the first new electric train for regional passenger services – the Škoda EMU 21Ev2 – arrived in Estonia. The train, part of a contract with Elron, marks the beginning of a fleet renewal, with Škoda Group set to produce five regional trains for primarily suburban traffic.
“The first new Škoda commuter train has arrived in Estonia, which will in the future primarily serve Tallinn’s commuter lines in both the western and Aegviidu directions,” said Elron’s board member Märt Ehrenpreis. “A regional train is similar in its basic nature to a long-distance train, but it has more bicycle and seating spaces and, due to the short-distance journeys, there are no business classes.”
Manufactured at Škoda’s factory in Ostrava, Czech Republic, the train is transported by road to Riga, where undercarriages are added and finalisation work is completed. In total, 16 new Škoda electric trains will be delivered to Estonia between 2024 and 2026 – 11 long-distance and five commuter trains. The new long-distance trains will offer 236 seats, 15 bicycle spaces, and a dedicated catering area, whereas the suburban trains will provide 262 seats, including options for additional bicycle space.
The first Škoda EMU 21Ev train – the predecessor to the commuter variant – arrived in Estonia on 13 June 2024, with type testing commencing on 23 July 2024. During these tests, new train types must travel 6,000 kilometres without major incidents and then complete a further 5,000-kilometre in-service trial, with at least 70 different tests performed for certification.
The EMU 21Ev electric train operates on dual systems at both 3kV and 25kV contact heights. The new long-distance trains are planned to serve the Tallinn–Tartu route after the infrastructure owner, AS Eesti Raudtee, completes electrification of the Tapa–Tartu section, while the regional trains will be integrated into the suburban network once train certification is finalised.
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