Škoda Group, in cooperation with Elron and Eesti Raudtee AS, has started type tests of the Škoda EMU 21Ev passenger train on the Estonian public railway infrastructure. The new electric train will be tested between Pääsküla – Paldiski and Pääsküla – Turba in the 3kV contact network.
“The first train must travel 6,000 kilometers without any major technical incidents, during which reliability and compliance with the terms of the contract will be evaluated,” said Lauri Betlem, chairman of Elron’s board .
Type tests are performed on trains that have not previously operated on Estonian railways, and this determines their suitability for movement on the Estonian infrastructure and is the basis for train certification. After the success of the type tests, all the delivered trains must pass a control period of 5,000 kilometers also serving passengers in line work. “A total of at least 70 different tests are performed on every train arriving in Estonia,” said Betlem.
The electric passenger train Škoda EMU 21Ev is dual-system and runs on both 3 kV and 25 kV contact height. “We can test the train in the existing 3kV network and from February also in the 25kV contact network being built by the Estonian Railways between Tamsalu and Jõgeva,” said Betlem. “We plan to start serving passengers with the new trains on the Tallinn – Tartu line from September of next year, when the infrastructure owner Eesti Raudtee has managed to electrify the entire Tapa – Tartu railway section.”
Elron type tests
- Type tests are performed on trains that have not previously operated on Estonian railways, and this determines their suitability for movement on the Estonian infrastructure and is the basis for train certification.
- The first train must travel 6,000 kilometers without any major technical incidents, during which reliability and compliance with the terms of the contract will be evaluated.
- After the success of the type tests, all delivered trains must pass a control period of 5,000 kilometers also serving passengers in line work. In total, at least 70 different tests are performed on every train arriving in Estonia.
- The electric passenger train Škoda EMU 21Ev is dual-system and runs on both 3 kV and 25 kV contact height. Testing of the train began in the existing 3kV network, and from February it can also be tested in the 25kV contact network under construction by Estonian Railways between Tamsalu and Jõgeva.
- The new ones will start serving the Tallinn – Tartu line from September 2025, when the infrastructure owner Eesti Raudtee has managed to electrify the entire Tapa – Tartu railway section.
Elron’s new trains
- A total of 16 new Škoda electric trains will arrive in Estonia between 2024 and 2026, of which 11 are long-distance trains and 5 are suburban trains.
- The long-distance train has 236 seats (currently 214 in the 4-carriage), 15 bicycle seats, catering area, numbered seats.
- The suburban train has 262 seats (currently 262 in the 4-carriage, 188 in the 3-carriage), 18 bicycle seats.
- The schedule of the Narva and Viljandi directions can be compressed using the resource of diesel trains released from the Tallinn – Tartu line.
Elron (AS Eesti Liinirongid) is a state-owned operator company that organizes passenger train traffic on the railway owned by Eesti Raudtee AS and Edelaraudtee AS. In 2023, 7.83 million trips were made with Elron trains.
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