Jon WorthJul 11, 2024

Via @Island_Martha - Tartu-Riga might finally start in October https://news.err.ee/1609394023/first-tartu-riga-train-connection-test-to-take-place-in-august

But the stated reasons for the slow progress strike me as 💩

Elron is short of trains, and PV/Vivi has even fewer. That’s the constraint, not track capacity or radios #CrossBorderRail

First Tartu-Riga train connection test to take place in August

Elron will start testing the planned Tartu-Riga train line next month and the biggest challenges are expected to be radio communication and fitting trains into the Latvian railway corridor.

Eesti Rahvusringhääling | ERR
Show threadAdam Jacobs 🇺🇦Jul 11, 2024

@jon @Island_Martha

Oh jolly good. I'm all for improving rail connections in that part of the world: I'm going to a conference in Riga next year and wondering if it might be feasible to go by train.

(Though I guess that one won't help me unless I do the Stockholm-Talinn ferry)

Show threadJon Worth
@statsguy @Island_Martha Warsaw - Vilnius runs. Vilnius - Riga runs. But they don’t connect. You need a night in Vilnius.
Jul 11, 2024 at 9:58amWeb
Show threadAdam Jacobs 🇺🇦Jul 11, 2024
@jon @Island_Martha Yeah, I'd spotted that. It looks like Warsaw to Riga is a distance that could easily be done in a day if the trains were better timed. Any idea if there's likely to be a more frequent service any time soon?
Show threadJon WorthJul 11, 2024
@statsguy @Island_Martha as Vilnius-Riga has been quite a success a further train is being discussed, but until Vilnius-Klaipeda is electrified I don’t think LTG has spare trains to run more (well not DMUs anyway, and they don’t want to do loco hauled, although they have trains for that)
Show threadAdam Jacobs 🇺🇦Jul 11, 2024

@jon @Island_Martha

I guess I shouldn't hold my breath then.

Though another way to look at it is that I've never been to Vilnius before, to the chance to stop off there overnight would be kind of fun.

Show threadJon WorthJul 11, 2024
@statsguy @Island_Martha and it’s great. The most fun Baltic capital in my view (although the least beautiful).
Show threadIndra Kupferschmid 💙💛Jul 11, 2024
@jon @statsguy @Island_Martha Whaaat? I found Vilnius to be quite beautiful. It‘s actually my fav among the Baltic capitals. Relaxed, hilly, green, less touristy than Riga and Tallinn (still a bit touristy but in an it-makes-it-easy-to-travel-there way)
Show threadJon WorthJul 11, 2024
@kupfers @statsguy @Island_Martha Oh it's not ugly. It's just not as classically beautiful as the other two I think, and it is indeed the most fun and interesting!
Show threadMarthaJul 11, 2024
@statsguy @jon
Vilnius is a brilliant city; much more attractive than its rival Kaunas - but not more brilliant than Tallinn. I love them both but live in Estonia
Show threadMarthaJul 11, 2024
@jon @statsguy
... and that would be a most terrible punishment.
If you do get stuck I could recommend a place to have a nosh and a beer. Lithuanians make great beer.
Show threadAdam Jacobs 🇺🇦Jul 11, 2024
@Island_Martha @jon I think I'm starting to get sold on the idea of doing the journey by train now
Show threadMarthaJul 11, 2024
@statsguy @jon
I predict it would be worth it. Train travel isn't just about getting from A to B, it is often an adventure
Show threadAdam Jacobs 🇺🇦Jul 11, 2024
@Island_Martha @jon Very true!
Show threadMichael H.Jul 11, 2024
@Island_Martha @statsguy @jon Fully agree.
For my #CrossBorderRail tour around Baltic Sea next week, #DB, #DSB, #SJ and #Elron did their best to sabotage my travel plans:
- no night trains Hamburg-Stockholm
- no direct trains Hamburg-København
- Tallinn-Valga-RÄ«ga on weekends broken: Elron arrives 3 mins after Vivi has left Valga
- Baltic station closed 15.-21. july
- EC Warszawa-Berlin ends at Frankfurt(Oder)
Mostly due to trackworks.
I‘ll find my way, though
Show threadMarthaJul 11, 2024
@michael_h @statsguy @jon
I believe in you - but I think you're going to need a crystal ball to do it.
Show threadMichael H.Jul 11, 2024
@Island_Martha @statsguy @jon Isn‘t that a part of the adventure?
Hope I‘ll be done with 2 extra overnight stays and a load more transfers. Plus (shame on me) taking a bus from Tartu to Rīga - otherwise my travel plan would explode 🤬
Lessons learned already:
- no tight travel schedules
- more overnight stays for tourist trips
- July is good for trackworks, but not for travel
- expect the unexpected
Show threadAdam Jacobs 🇺🇦Jul 11, 2024
@michael_h @Island_Martha @jon All good advice. To which I would add: always have a contingency plan.
Show threadJon WorthJul 11, 2024
@michael_h @Island_Martha @statsguy Ha. That Valga issue is not only a weekend problem!