First Škoda Group EMU for Estonia. Source: Ken Mürk/ERR
Estonia: The first two three-car Škoda Group EMUs entered passenger service in Estonia last week, operating between Tallinn and Kloogaranna.
The trains had been undergoing trial operation in the country since last summer. Their launch, initially planned for September, was postponed due to delays in electrification works on the route.
The trains are model 21Ev units, derived from the manufacturer’s 7Ev (RegioPanter) platform for partially low-floor single-deck EMUs, adapted for longer-distance services. Each train offers 236 seats across standard and business-class sections, space for 15 bicycles and two wheelchairs, and includes a café area.
By 2027, Škoda Group will deliver a total of 16 trains to passenger operator Elron—11 for regional and long-distance routes and five for suburban services—under a €147 mln contract. Both versions are designed to operate under 3 kV DC and 25 kV AC electrification at speeds of up to 160 km/h.