Soviet Rail Baltica: from Riga to Tallinn by Train via Valga with Vivi and Elron

Train: Vivi 874
From: Riga Central Railway Station (Rigas Pasazieru stacija), Latvia
To: Valga Railway Station, Estonia
Route via: Sigulda, Cesis, Valmiera, Lugazi
Railway lines used: Riga - Pskov (Russia) line
Border Latvia/Estonia: Valga (Gr)
Train operator: Vivi Latvija (Pasazieru vilciens)
Scheduled Departure Time from Riga: 11h00 Eastern European Time
Scheduled Arrival Time in Valga: 13h59 EET
Scheduled Travel time (Riga - Valga): 2 hours and 59 minutes
Railway distance (Riga - Valga): 170 km
Travel season: Winter 2023/2024
Ticket bought on: vivi.lt
Ticket fare (Single Class): EUR 5.22
Diesel multiple unit type: DR1A
Diesel multiple unit registration: DR1A-246.6 and DR1A-198.3
Built by: RVR Rigas Vagonbuves Rupnica, Soviet Union, in 1982
Maximum speed: 100 km/h (operating speed) and 120 km/h (certified speed)
Train: Elron 335/17
From: Valga Railway Station, Estonia
To: Tallinn Baltic Station (Tallinn Balti Jaam)
Route via: Tartu, and Tapa
Train operator: Elron (Elektriraudtee, Eesti Raudtee EVR)
Scheduled Departure Time from Valga: 11h52 Eastern European Time
Scheduled Arrival Time in Tallinn: 15h26 EET
Scheduled Travel time (Valga - Tallinn): 3 hours and 34 minutes
Railway distance (Valga - Tallinn): 276 km
Ticket bought on: elron.ee
Ticket fare (First Class): EUR 24.31
Diesel multiple unit type: Stadler Flirt
Diesel multiple unit type and name: 2428 “Krull”
Built by: Stadler Rail in Switzerland in 2013
Maximum speed: 120 km/h (operating speed) and 160 km/h (certified speed)
00:00 Preview Summary
02:33 Vivi Train Riga-Valga
06:06 Inside Soviet DR1A Diesel Multiple Unit
08:09 Sigulda, Latvian Switzerland
10:57 Valmiera
12:38 Border Latvia/Estonia
13:46 Valga Railway Station
16:17 Overnight in Valga
18:06 Elron Train Valga-Tallinn
21:50 Elron Stadler Flirt train
23:55 Tartu Railway Station
27:01 Electrification in Estonia
28:40 Tallinn Baltic Station

[@philmoore71]

thanks

[@kristiankumanov5732]

As always, exceptional trip with authentic sounds and of course all the history facts. Thanks!

[@doc7austin]

yes; there wont be any narration on my channel

[@AdamZugone]

Being Latvian, I really appreciate that, as far as I've seen, all station platforms in Estonia have been modernized and match with the black lamp posts, stands and roofed waiting areas. I don't know how long this has been like that but it's very nice to see as opposed to the old dirty concrete platforms in Latvia.

[@user-wp1ep6cg5g]

THANKS FOR THIS VIDEO MAN

[@doc7austin]

you are welcome !

[@PtrkHrnk]

You should perhaps add black border to the subtitles. They're hard to read on the snowy background.

[@travelvideos]

Really beautiful trip in the snow with railways. There used to be good connection with 5-10 min waiting time. Now connecting times are bad. That is pity because I see many foreigners get stranded. Railway company said that there is little interest to make a connection, but that is not true.

[@doc7austin]

very few passengers could be found on the trains to/from valga;

[@user-wp1ep6cg5g]

THANKS FOR VIDEO MAN

[@iiigraghu]

Excellent Presentation 💐

[@Loweffordproducions]

The blue train you saw at Tapa is the breakdown train. It is used, when some train has derailed or crashed. it also has a infirmary in the blue coach. The cranes are for lifting coaches back onto the tracks.

[@magnusm7773]

Nice!

[@CsabyC]

@25:59: first one is a Takraf EDK300 crane and the other one seems to be a Takraf EDK1000 crane, used to put railway vehicles back on the track. They have nothing to do with electrification.

[@doc7austin]

hmmm; ok; good to know

[@sulevturnpuu5491]

@@doc7austin And the blue sleeping car before it, that You were wondering about, seems to be part of the set with the cranes. Sign on the sleeper is 'Tapa rescue train' (can also read as recovery).

[@martinkoitmae6655]

Facinating stuff!

[@johnmcqueen4883]

I spent a couple weeks in Latvia and Estonia in spring 2019, no snow then! I moved in stages, Riga to Sigulda, then to Cesis, then to Tartu via Valga, and finally on to Rallin. It looks like service has improved in both countries, but when I traveled the morning train from Riga made an immediate connection in Valga to the Tallin train. Those traveling in the opposite direction had a three hour layover in Valga, even though the Riga train was already sitting in the station. Thanks for bringing back memories of my trip.

[@doc7austin]

the connection in direction tallinn -> riga is very bad today; the connection only works on a weekend

[@timectrl]

@@doc7austin The second Valga-Riga train on weekdays does leave after the first Tallinn-Valga arrives. It's possible any day.

[@pianoman4Jesus]

@29:12 Train 414 departing Balti Jaam is headed to Aegviidu. A very pretty station. 25 years ago, that was the ending point of the Tallinn electrified train line. Beyond that had to be diesel. (It is before you reach Tapa headed East from Tallinn.) Very nice video. Thank you for taking the time to make it.

[@doc7austin]

in my video you can see the transition between the non-electrified and electrified section (3 kV DC) on the tapa-tallinn line

[@sellier-bellot22]

Looks like real winter !!! LOL🥶

[@doc7austin]

brrrr - it was cold; -15C degrees

[@nichirvanali6714]

Improvement suggestion: When the background is white (snow), the text is difficult to read. Just add black shadow around the text (not black background) and it will be good

[@doc7austin]

hmmm; I nee to think maybe to use another video editing software

[@nichirvanali6714]

@@doc7austin can you tell me which software you use, maybe I can tell you how you can do it. It is usually very simple

[@doc7austin]

@nichirvanali6714 imovie on iphone

[@nichirvanali6714]

@@doc7austin this is how you add shadow to text kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4jbgmx6fayihrc

[@user-lk2od9cu6n]

Смотрю на красивые и честно от себя вокзалы,всё здорово

[@rusmoscow1971]

8:03 - Красивое здание вокзала, у меня до сих пор дома есть сувенирный гномик из Сигулды 1978-го года

[@doc7austin]

yes yes; one day I should visit sigulda again

[@user-wy3yh3mq1k]

👍

[@ntw9218]

In the summer, Elron will open the Riga-Tartu line, which I think is going to make at least this stretch of the journey much more convenient. The current route through Valga isn't direct enough to make it worth extending all the way to Tallinn, because it will still be slower than a bus. Connecting in Tartu would still improve this journey though, because the service between Tartu and Tallinn is more frequent, and can avoid the old Latvian train.

[@timectrl]

I think it will open in fall. If it opens in the summer, I will see the first trip.

[@A-A_P]

Although, this plan seems to have stalled somewhat. But yeah, there were talks of opening in 2025.

[@stagna1959]

Main problems between Riga-Tallinn train travel : 1) Very slow Riga-Valga train which stops often and using old Soviet era trains 2) Too big connection time in Valga 3) No drinks or snacks in train Would be fine if modern Pesa train would connect Vilnius-Riga-Tallinn in one journey. Mostly repaired tracks would allow to make Riga -Tallinn in 5.30 making only stops in bigger towns /cities : Riga, Cesis, Valmiera, Valga, Tartu,Jõgeva, Tapa, Tallinn Lietuva even proposed to make their Vilnius-Riga line longer, all the way to Tallinn. But railway authorities in Estonia are not interested to make an actual effort to make it happen. It requires to spend money and cooperation with neighboring countries and they are very reluctant to cooperate. It is much easier to sit in their chairs and do nothing. Current connection time in Valga shows it very clearly - 3 hours 30 minutes !They even cant make normal connection. The same thing was with 4 capitals train Kiev -Riga . Ukraine was interested to make it Kiev-Tallinn train, but our officials found million reasons why not to do it. Until pandemic killed the train completely and of course now to run European trains thru Belarus is impossible.

[@doc7austin]

i think Elron is basically only focused on commuter traffic around tallinn

[@carleryk]

It wouldn't pay off financially. There are simply too few people living in southern Estonia. Most people live in the north and don't need that connection. Rail Baltic would also be mostly for cargo.

[@dumbisdumb.]

yeah because the train riga valga is also used for the people that live there and without it they have basically no way to get around if they dont have a car

[@Finlandia464]

Прекрасный обзор , в Латвии люди наслаждаться будут Др1а , а в Эстонии всё новое 🇱🇻>🇪🇪

[@ilmesuviste6800]

Hey,was there a working toilet on Riga-Valga train?

[@doc7austin]

i honestly didnt want to know or test it

[@worldtrains]

@@doc7austin There is. Don't try it unless you need to

[@2TE116_loco]

Отличное видео только как ты успеваешь ездить?

[@doc7austin]

what do you mean - manage to drive this train ?

[@mysteriumvitae5338]

@@doc7austin This is a typical mistranslation by a translation app. The asker meant: 'How do you find the time you need for all the travelling you do?'

[@SGtravelsEU]

too bad the direct Tallinn-Talga service will be reduced for only 2 trains in a few years in order to make full use of the new electric trains.

[@doc7austin]

oh wow; thata bad; i guess tartu-valga is not going to be electrified anytime soon; But where is Elron going to deply its 20 stadler diesel trains, after the electrification tallinn-tartu has been completed ?

[@bandvitromania9642]

​@@doc7austini think the trains can be easily converted to electric by removing the diesel generator or that's how i heard from a video i think on similar trainsets used by Arrow in California

[@timectrl]

@@doc7austin I believe they will increase service on routes Tallinn-Viljandi, Tartu-Valga, Tartu-Piusa, and perhaps the Valga-Koidula route (disused since 2001).

[@ntw9218]

@@doc7austin Tartu-Riga route in addition to the ones mentioned earlier

[@Kulla1berg]

Two very interesting and historical videos about a train journey from Villnius to Tallinn. Would be interesting to see if they will extend number of train over the boarders in future

[@doc7austin]

yes; it would be nice if elron could extend one tallinn-valga train to riga

[@markoobid2005]

Haha my friend "Krull" 🤣. Out of 6 train rides I took during my three days stay in Estonia last summer, 3 of them were aboard that unit. The first was Tapa - Tartu exactly on that mentioned train 10/330, and then later that day a return trip from Tapa to Narva and back. I arrived and left Estonia by ferry though. Train travel in both countries seems like two different worlds. I can only praise the Elron service: modern, fast, and in 3 days I haven't had ONE. SINGLE. DELAY! I could better count early arrivals.

[@doc7austin]

yes, but fares on Elron are much higher than on Vivi

[@user-rx2eq7dj6w]

The train interior looks similar to Chinese 25G.

[@doc7austin]

haha; really ?

[@user-rx2eq7dj6w]

yes, especially the luggage rack and car link.@@doc7austin

[@Artas219]

4:20 Riga -daugavpils line isn't electrified

[@doc7austin]

it is electrified as far as aizkraukele

[@realhawaii5o]

I don't know why Elron doesn't do service from Tallinn to Riga. That would comnect the Baltics so much better! They do plan on having a Tartu to Riga service still this year in 2024... But it doesn't really change much in terms of how many trains you need to take form Tallinn to Riga...

[@Rebasepoiss]

Firstly, Elron doesn't have enough trains at the moment for international services. Secondly, the distance by rail is around 50% more than by road. This means that it's difficult for the train to have a competitive travel time with the bus. The bus service is much more frequent, cheap and rather comfortable. Rail Baltica is under construction (slowly) but don't expect to take a train before 2030. The new connection should decrease travel times between Riga and Tallinn to only 2 hours, however.

[@doc7austin]

hmmmm; i think train travel over long distances is always more comfortable than by bus; lets see if we see a riga-tartu train in 2024

[@pianoman4Jesus]

"Tallinn to Riga": I think that will be the coming Rail Baltica project.

[@timectrl]

@@Rebasepoiss So many people would take a train instead of a bus, even if the train was slower.

[@carleryk]

Who would ride on those trains? Most people who live in Estonia reside in the North and they have no reason to travel to Riga. Helsinki-Tallinn is the most important route between passengers in both Finnic countries.

[@erikotte1930]

What great news for rail travellers! After passenger trains returned on the Haparanda route a few years ago, the undignified gaps between the Baltic states are closed now. This means that after many years, a round trip around the Baltic Sea by train is now possible again. Only two questions remain unanswered: 3:48: looking at the travellers: is there no heating on Lithuanian trains? 15:48: Why did the Soviets install a preacher's pulpit in Valga train station?

[@jabberwockytdi8901]

The old Hungarian DMU's built on the same principle look even more " vintage"

[@OskarsSmalga-of9bi]

U mean D1?

[@wrcfan2024]

your from ?

[@doc7austin]

Ukraine

[@wrcfan2024]

@@doc7austin okey

[@rusmoscow1971]

5:55 - Рыбные манИАки в своей естественной среде обитания

[@doc7austin]

yes; you ll find these people also in russia

[@MHG1023]

At least cooperation slowly increases it seems. Since december 2023 there´s a daily direct train between Vilnius and Riga. But there´s still the unconvenient onward route to Tallinn that requires a change of trains combined with (intentionally ???) mismatching or very tight connecting schedules. To me it seems there are certain forces in all three countries that try to jeopardize cooperation between them on various levels. I wonder if (long distance) bus operators are somehow involved in the "blockade" of inter country passenger rail cooperation ...

[@doc7austin]

in the end its all about money; elron, vivi, and ltg link are certainly willing to offer more and more conveniently timed cross-border train connections; However, all train operators expect the governments to pay for it; the governments in turn point their fingers to the respective other state

[@MHG1023]

@@doc7austin ... and ticket prices are a sensitive issue. Bus operators are a strong competition because - so far - buses are faster and will likely lower their ticket prices if they feel trains are biting off too much of their cake ... Still, I´m hard pressed to believe trains on the existing routes could match bus travel times. If train operators get their act together they could offer a much more comfortable option, though. Once the Rail Baltica project is completed tables will be turned but I fear ticket prices will be just too high.

[@timectrl]

@@MHG1023 It's crazy that people use intercity buses. Like citybusses are great but being on one for four hours?

[@raivisk72]

@@timectrl Then you haven’t been on Luxexpress. Their coaches between Baltic capitals are more comfortable than train, with board entertainment, WiFi and definitely more comfortable seating.

[@raivisk72]

Trains schedules are really not mismatched on purpose. Valka/Valha is like an afterthought. Timetables on Latvian side are there for those going to and from Sigulda, Cēsis and Valmiera as those are the busiest destinations on this line. If Vivi had more trains available they could probably do more in terms of scheduling.

[@venca2]

Those are a bit old fashioned, but lovely units ❤.

[@doc7austin]

yes; Made in Latvia

[@rusmoscow1971]

4:47 - А почему до Пярну элки не ходят, а только до Скулте?

[@Ivan73632]

От Скулте до Пярну нет жд линии. Разобрали в 90 годах. Зачем министрества траспорта Латвии и Эстонии приняли решение о закрытии линии, нам непонятно.... Чтобы задорого построить Rail Baltica?😂

[@GeorgeGy]

@@Ivan73632 Зато будет туннель из Таллина в Хельсинки. И в нём будет проложена 1435 миллиметровая колея! И, думаю, поезда будут в Хельсинки перепрыгивать с 1435мм на 1520мм!

[@A-A_P]

​@@Ivan73632 it was left in terrible shape by the soviet authorities, much like Tallinn-Pärnu, Keila-Haapsalu etc. Of course it's a shame how cutback the modern layout is compared to it's height in the 1930s (it went downhill from there, with the narrow-gauge being completely dug up and only rarely replaced in the 1960s and 70s), also considering the then-local manifacture of engines, motor wagons etc.

[@Suursaadik]

The Latvian train is the past, but the Estonian train is the future! 😮

[@doc7austin]

yes; Do we know which diesel trains Vivi will order to replace the old DR1 diesel trains ?

[@Suursaadik]

@@doc7austin Škoda 16EV, but the Estonian Stadler Flirt is better than the Latvian one. It's a shame the Škoda 16EV already ordered in Estonia, there is a problem with starting in the winter, which we discovered in the Latvian media.

[@dumbisdumb.]

@@Suursaadik skoda 16ev is eletric train, riga-valga does not have eletric wires so skoda 16ev cant be used here

[@CiemnaTn]

DR1 is really cool, even after modernisation. Lithuania also use them. With original cabins you can still find them in Ukraine an Belarus.

[@doc7austin]

yes; esp. in ukraine - they look stone age old

[@CiemnaTn]

@@doc7austin Lack of alternatives... As I know in Ukraine there are still some D1 locomotives. As for Belarus - it has DR1B1 where one control carriage was replaced by control carriage from 2M62

[@SGtravelsEU]

Lithuania will retire them in 2 years though :(

[@doc7austin]

But what will replace them ?

[@CiemnaTn]

Based on information which I found it can be Stadler Flirt in Bemu modification.

[@iany2448]

Isn't EU paying to build a standard gauge line connecting these cities?

[@ltu42]

That's a rather simplified way to put it. Rail Baltica, the HSR Line connecting Tallinn, Riga, and Kaunas to Poland is being built. It's 85% EU financed, the rest is financed by the national governments.

[@doc7austin]

the speed of construction is rather slow

[@Rebasepoiss]

Yes but the line is supposed to open only in 2030.

[@GeorgeGy]

@@doc7austin "the speed of construction is rather slow"... on-pair with California High-Speed Rail (almost).

[@enricopochini5300]

Is a pity that important information about the line is written so little that is impossible to read and useless info in thick caracters

[@doc7austin]

what more information would you like to know ?

[@vongodric]

Huge difference in trains! Estonian ones look really nice. Though Tapa station is disgustingly shameful how dilapidated it is...

[@doc7austin]

i think that Tapa station will be renovated in the future

[@A-A_P]

​@@doc7austin it should be, as of currently. Also, the elecrification of Tallinn-Tartu is in progress and planned to be finished by next year or sth.

[@cestmoi1262]

19:55 Luckily one gets a free seat reservation in first class and with being the only pax (apparently) that must be reassuring not having to stand for some three hours, LOL. Seriously though, the low ridership is disappointing and if I were a "zero emissions" nut I would say a diesel bus would be more environmentally friendly --- the electricity for the train (and you need a lot plus producing the engines and empty cars) is produced by coal, diesel or natural gas in the Flatlands.

[@doc7austin]

yes; traffic figures in and out of valga (to riga and tallinn) are very, very low

[@cestmoi1262]

@@doc7austin Luckily the railroads are supported by the government. I am really all for the trains. In fact, I have 50 engines, over 100 passenger cars and over 100 freight cars on my model railroad layout. So I am on your side. In Europe it is an advantage to have shorter distances so airplanes are not a real competition. In the US you don't have a good infrastructure for passenger traffic --- freight has a priority and besides passenger tickets are fairly expensive. The long distances and if nothing else the low cost for a family to travel by car cannot be overloooked. If that ever changes I feel it will be long beyond my lifetime.

[@raileon]

When I took that Valga-Tallinn train last year in February, it was quite crowded. Even first class was sold out!

[@cestmoi1262]

@@raileon Always refreshing to hear positive news. Thank you.

[@doc7austin]

uuh; the train was already full in valga; our elron train filled up nicely in tartu

[@jfmezei]

Looks like it will take a lot of work to build Rail Baltica. Was expecting more developped railway system in the Baltics. Passenger rail does not seem to be seen as strategic. With what is going on in the world, I wonder if Rail baltica will be put on extreme emergency so the baltics can be connected to Europe. Since 2022, I can understand why cargo trains in Baltics would not do well since they have nowhere to go with connections to Russia closed.

[@doc7austin]

the main issue with rail traffic in the baltics states: the size of the population is very low, so train mass transit is often not economical

[@drdewott9154]

Well I mean thats why Rail Baltica is needed so badly. The baltic rail systems are alright given their low population density but it needs much more. Especially internally in the Baltic region, whereas all the old mainlines all head from the Baltic countries into Russia. All the north south links have been secondary routes and branch lines. Plus the different track gauge has meant poor integration to the rest of the European rail network. Hence the need for Rail Baltica and its new fast north-south mainline for both freight trains and passenger trains at speeds of 230km/h. And that may not be the fastest for high speed rail, but it will be a huge gamechanger in this part of Europe.

To Petersburg train wen up until 2018, not 1998. So much Russian Empire references noticeable. Like under Polish and Sweden rules there would never be any railway, beautiful stations and aven route to the Pskow...there would be more destructional wars,, etc.

[@doc7austin]

a riga - st. petersburg - riga train via valga until 2018 - this cannot be possible; maybe st. petersburg - riga were connected, but not via valga

[@timectrl]

@@doc7austin I have an Estonian railways timetable from 1997. It shows the Riga-St Petersburg train via Valga and Petseri. I think it was closed in 1998. The train through Rezekne and Zilupe until it's closure in 2018. Trains from Valga to the Estonian border near Petseri continued into the 2000's. On the fourth of March 2001, the last train ran with a fir mourning wreath. Interesting to note that the border station was in Russia until 2011. This means that the last train ran back to the Valga station, and then was appointed to Tartu to become the last Tartu-Tallinn of the day.

[@bumerangsydney]

RVR Riga used to supply trains to half of Europe now they are deceased. Classic story of EU taking over Eastern block.

[@doc7austin]

yes, I heard that RVR went bust in 2017; But how could they compete against Stadler, Siemens, Alstom in the first place ?

[@jabberwockytdi8901]

Really not that simple is it??

[@doc7austin]

@jabberwockytdi8901 I think a small RVR from latvia cannot compete with the big boys, esp. since the train assembly lines require a lot of know-how and upfront investments

[@bumerangsydney]

@@doc7austin of course you are not allowed to compete against your boss :)

[@avigdonable]

@@doc7austinif Pesa or Skoda can compete, why not RVR.

[@GeorgeGy]

"The Coronavirus pandemic has killed off this international train to..." a very common situation. We call it "COVIDiotism". :(

[@doc7austin]

Covid was just a convenient excuse to get rid of undesirable trains

[@GeorgeGy]

@@doc7austin Sadly, yes. I am curious when the Moscow - Beijing trains will be back. Or when the Baku - Tbilisi - Ankara trains. What a disappointment!