All lines on the network run across or through the beginning of Narva Maantee in the city centre, with three of the five routes meeting up at the stop Hobujaama.

The network is operated by Tatra KT4 and KTNF6 types (the latter being former KT4s that have been extended with the addition of a low-floor middle section), CAF Urbos AXLs, and since 2024, Pesa Twists.

This used a single track 1,524 mm (5 ft) gauge line, which made it suitable for also transporting heavy cargo to the harbour.

[3] During World War I, the horse-drawn trams ceased operation in 1918, leaving just the steam tramcars running to Kopli.

The 1920 Treaty of Tartu signaled Soviet acceptance of Estonian independence, and on 13 May 1921 the rest of the Tallinn tram network reopened.

However, the return of war in 1939, and the savage conflict that followed the annexation of Estonia by the Soviet Union in 1940, put a stop to further development of the city's tram network.

[3] In 1970's tram routes were planned in Lasnamäe, in 1980's Laagna tee have been constructed for this purpose, but the new authorities discontinued this project after the fall of the USSR.

On 1 September 2017, line 4 was extended to the airport (this section is temporarily closed due to construction of the Rail Baltica Ülemiste terminal[2]).

[2] Discussions on future directions centered on the possibility of phasing out some of the city's motor-bus lines and extending the tram network.

Instead of this, the city of Tallinn between 2010 and 2017 phased out three trolleybus lines (2, 6, 7, 9) and replaced them with motor-buses that are ostensibly environmentally friendly.

[1] Following the start of electrification in 1931, the first electric tram cars were assembled in Tallinn using parts and sub-assemblies from Germany and Sweden.

[3] Between 1955 and 1964, 50 powered tramcars and 50 further unpowered trailer cars were delivered from the Gothaer Waggonfabrik rolling stock production facility in southern GDR (East Germany).

Whilst use of two-section T4 vehicles came to an end in 2005,[citation needed] then T4-based trams were until mid-2010s the only class that ran in Tallinn, and have remained the mainstay of the fleet well into 2010s.

[9] As with all public transport in Tallinn, the tram network is free to use for residents of the city, senior citizens and those with disabilities, along with certain other groups.

[12] The network reached its present extent of 39 km (24 mi) single track (each stretch counted twice) in 1990[citation needed].