The European Union Railway Agency has issued Elron a renewed Single Safety Certificate (SSC), allowing the company to operate passenger services in Latvia. To commence the Tartu–Riga passenger train service, Stadler FLIRT trains must also be certified for use on Latvian rail infrastructure.
Elron applied for the certificate in June 2024, and the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) granted approval on 28 February 2025. The SSC confirms that Elron’s safety processes meet both European Union and national regulatory requirements.
The certification process involved the Estonian and Latvian supervisory authorities, including the Consumer and Technical Supervision Authority and the State Railway Inspection. These agencies assessed the compliance of Elron’s safety management system and verified its readiness to operate in Latvia. The certificate is valid until 2028, following the renewal of a permit originally issued in 2023. Introduced in 2018, the SSC allows for international and multi-country rail transport within the European Union.
Elron in Latvia
In addition to the safety certificate, Elron must obtain approval for its Stadler FLIRT trains to operate in Latvia. The certification process involves the Latvian Railway Technical Inspection, the European Union Railway Administration, the Estonian Consumer Protection and Technical Supervision Authority, and other railway safety assessment bodies. Test runs of the two-car Stadler FLIRT trains took place between Valga and Riga in early February as part of this process.
The launch of the Tartu–Riga rail service is being developed in collaboration with the Estonian Ministry of Climate, the Latvian Ministry of Regional Development and Agriculture, the City of Tartu, the Latvian passenger train operator Vivi, and other partners.
Additionally, a daily rail service connecting Tallinn, Tartu, Valga, Riga, and Vilnius began operation on 6 January. The route is jointly operated by Elron (Tallinn–Valga), Vivi (Valga–Riga), and Lithuanian operator LTG Link (Riga–Vilnius).
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