History of rail transport in Estonia

[2] The port of Paldiski was chosen because its southerly position made it ice free all the year round.

[1] Additionally a network of narrow gauge railways (750mm) were being built in Estonia, the first connecting Valga and Pärnu in 1896, then Mõisaküla to Viljandi (1897), later extended via Paide to Tallinn in 1901.

[1] At the end of World War I and the collapse of the Russian Empire, the country was occupied by Germany and a puppet government installed.

During German occupation the network was converted to standard (1435mm) gauge, and rolling stock from Germany used.

[3] The construction of a new port at Muuga (north-east of Tallinn) began in 1982, as part of that project a new railway link between Tallinn and Tapa was updated to a double track to allow more rail traffic to pass through the railway line, the construction started in March 1985 and was completed in January 1992.

[5] Three organisations were formed in 1997–1998 for future privatisation:[1][5][6] In 2001 a 66% stake in EVR was acquired for $58 million by Baltic Rail Services (BRS).

[9] Whilst under private ownership many second hand American built GE locomotives were introduced.