Transport in Estonia
Transport in Estonia relies mainly on road and rail networks.
Roads
- Total: 57,565 km (including 16,465 km of national roads)
- Paved: 12,926 km (including 99 km of limited-access roads)
National roads
National roads form the core of Estonian road network. Their total length is 16,489 km (or 28% of all roads), 67% of them are paved.[1] They are divided into 4 classes according to importance:
- main roads (1,607 km)
- basic roads (2,406 km)
- secondary roads (12,476 km)
- local roads (18,455 km)
| Number | E-road | Route | Length (km) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 T1
|
 E20
|
Tallinn – Narva | 211 | expressway for 80 km out of Tallinn and 7 km between Kukruse and Johvi. Continues to M11
|
 T2
|
 E263
|
Tallinn – Tartu – Võru – Luhamaa | 291 | expressway for 63 km out of Tallinn and 6 km near Mäo. Crosses Estonia in southeast direction from Tallinn to join national road 7 |
 T3
|
 E264
|
Jõhvi – Tartu – Valga | 216 | continues from Valga to Riga as Latvian A3 |
 T4
|
 E67
|
Tallinn – Pärnu – Ikla | 193 | expressway for 14 km out of Tallinn continues from Ikla to Riga as Latvian A1 |
 T5
|
Pärnu – Rakvere – Sõmeru | 184 | from Pärnu via Paide to join national road 1 near Rakvere | |
 T6
|
Valga – Uulu | 125 | from Pärnu via Kilingi-Nõmme to Valga | |
 T7
|
 E77
|
Riga – Pskov | 22 | short section in southeast Estonia via Misso, continues as Russian A212 and Latvian A2 |
 T8
|
 E265
|
Tallinn – Paldiski | 49 | via Keila, Keila-Paldiski section is part of E 265, which continues on ferry to Kapellskär |
 T9
|
Ääsmäe – Haapsalu – Rohuküla | 81 | ferry connection from Rohuküla to Hiiumaa | |
 T10
|
Risti – Virtsu – Kuivastu – Kuressaare | 144 | ferry between Virtsu and Kuivastu ( Muhumaa )
| |
 T11
|
E265
|
Tallinn ring road | 38 | |
 T92
|
Tartu – Viljandi – Kilingi-Nõmme | 130 |
Electric vehicle network
Estonia is the first country in the
electric vehicle network. The system offers a unitary booking service and several different tariffs, some of which appear attractively low priced.[3] The charging station network puts Estonia at the forefront in Europe even though Norway actually has a higher penetration of electric vehicles. Estonia has a rate of 1 electric vehicle per 1,000 capita, whereas Norway has 4 EVs per 1,000 capita.[2]
Railways
- Total: 900 km common carrier lines only (1,200 km including dedicated industrial lines)
- Broad gauge: 900 km 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) or 1,524 mm (5 ft) gauge (133 km electrified)
Railway links with adjacent countries
Latvia – yes – same 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) gauge
Russia – yes – same 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) gauge
As of 2023, the Rail Baltica project to link a high speed line through Latvia and Lithuania to Poland, is scheduled for completion in 2030, with a start of services on some of the sections in 2028.[4]
Light rail
There has been a growing tram network in
Vana-Lõuna
, shut down in 2004 because of small usage) and 6 (Kopli-Tondi, temporarily used in time of repairs).
Ports and Harbours
Estonia has 45 ports in the State Port Register. With a few exceptions, all of them are on the Baltic Sea.
Largest ports are
.Merchant marine
Since 2014, there have been no vessels over 500gt on the Estonian register. About 60 merchant vessels are beneficially owned in Estonia, with most of them registered in Malta. The government has started a drive to bring more of these vessels back into the Estonian register.[5]
Airports
Airports – with paved runways
- total: 13 (2013)
- over 3,047 m: 2
- 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
- 1,524 m to 2,437 m : 2
- 914 to 1,523 m: 1[6]
Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport
is the largest airport in Estonia.
Pipelines
- Natural gas 859 km (2007)
Waterways
- 320 km perennially navigable
Currently operating water transport routes:
- International:
- Domestic:
- Western Estonia:
- Rohuküla – Sviby (Vormsi Island) ferry
- Rohuküla – Heltermaa (Hiiumaa Island) ferry
- Sõru (Hiiumaa Island) – Triigi (Saaremaa Island) ferry
- Virtsu – Kuivastu (Muhu Island) ferry
- Pärnu – Kihnu Island boat-ferry
- Munalaid – Kihnu Island boat-ferry
- Munalaid – Manilaid Islet boat-ferry and boat
- Roomassaare (Saaremaa Island) – Abruka Island boat-ferry and boat[7]
- Munalaid – Ruhnu Island (charter) ferry and (seasonal) high-speed craft-ferry
- Pärnu – Ruhnu Island (seasonal) high-speed craft-ferry
- Roomassaare (Saaremaa Island) – Ruhnu Island (seasonal) high-speed craft-ferry
- Rohuküla – Hobulaid Islet (charter) boat
- Northern Estonia:
- Leppneeme – Prangli Island boat-ferry
- Tallinn – Aegna Island (seasonal) boat
- Tallinn – Naissaar Island (seasonal) boat
- Dirhami – Osmussaar Island (seasonal) boat
- Väike-Pakri Island(charter) boat
- Lake Peipus and Emajõgi River:
- Laaksaare – Piirissaar Island ferry
- Kavastu (seasonal) cable ferry across Emajõgi River
- Western Estonia:
See also
- M/S Estonia
- TS Laevad – ferry company serving the major islands
- Kihnu Veeteed – ferry company serving mainly smaller islands
- Plug-in electric vehicles in Estonia
References
- ^ "Annual Report 2013" (PDF). Estonian Road Administration. Retrieved 2013-12-19.
- ^ a b "Lihtne ja mugav elektriauto laadimine kõikjal".
- ^ "Lihtne ja mugav elektriauto laadimine kõikjal".
- ^ Rail Baltica – Project of the Century" on the Rai Baltica official website, accessed on 26 April 2023.
- ^ "Baltic Course". 27 November 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
- ^ "The World Factbook".
- ^ Abruka transport Lääne-Saare Parish.