View source for Edelaraudtee

{{Short description|Estonian railway company}}

{{Infobox public transit
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| name = Edelaraudtee
| image = Edelaraudtee logo.png
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| image2 = Ch33, Czech-built shunter at Tallinn Vaike depot, Estonia.jpg
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| locale = [[Estonia]]
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| annual_ridership = 1,820,000 (2011)<ref>{{cite news |first = Kadri |last = Masing |title = Edelaraudtee reisijate arv kasvab |url = http://uudised.err.ee/index.php?06250924 |publisher = ERR |language = Estonian |date = 19 April 2012 |access-date = 29 June 2012}}</ref>
| chief_executive = 
| headquarters = 
| website = {{url|http://www.edel.ee/}}
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| began_operation = 1997
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| ended_operation = 2014
| operator = Edelaraudtee AS
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{{Edelaraudtee route diagram}}
{{Not to be confused with||text=[[Eesti Raudtee]] - the national railway infrastructure company of Estonia}}
'''Edelaraudtee''' (''Southwestern railway'') is a private [[Estonia]]n [[Railway infrastructure manager|railway infrastructure owner]] and freight operator that operates the railway lines from [[Tallinn]] to [[Viljandi]] and from [[Lelle]] to [[Pärnu]].<ref name="tja">{{cite web |url = http://www.tja.ee/railway-sector-in-estonia-2 |title = Tehnilise Järelevalve Amet |website = www.tja.ee |access-date = 22 May 2022 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130316002249/http://www.tja.ee/railway-sector-in-estonia-2 |archive-date = 16 March 2013 |url-status = dead}}</ref> 

Founded in 1997, Edelaraudtee operates freight services on lines from [[Tallinn]] to [[Rapla]], [[Pärnu]] & [[Viljandi]] owned by '''Edelaraudtee Infrastruktuuri AS''' and part of '''AS Go Group'''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marcel Vichmann sai taas Go Groupi suuromanikuks |url=https://www.aripaev.ee/uudised/2024/08/28/marcel-vichmann-sai-taas-go-groupi-suuromanikuks |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=Äripäev |language=et}}</ref> Prior to 2014, the company also operated the domestic inter-city passenger routes that are currently operated by [[Elron (rail transit)|Elron]]. Before the transfer of the passenger traffic to Elron, Edelaraudtee employed around 500 staff and carried approximately 1.8 million passengers per year.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.edel.ee/uudised/1/readmore/657/ |title = Uudised &#124; Edelaraudtee |access-date = 11 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130609120616/http://www.edel.ee/uudised/1/readmore/657 |archive-date = 9 June 2013 }}</ref>

==History==
[[File:DR1B-3714.jpg|thumb|Former passenger diesel multiple unit DR1B at Tartu (2010)]]
In November 2000, the British private railway company [[GB Railways]] acquired an interest in Edelaraudtee through the Estonian subsidiary ''GB Railways Eesti AS'' in exchange for 10 million [[Estonian kroon|Kroon]] ($540,000) along with investment and stock increase deals over a five year period as part of the agreement.<ref>{{citation |url = http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/3487/ |title = Passenger transportation projects rejected |first= Aleksei |last = Gunter |date = 30 November 2000 |work = The Baltic Times}}</ref><ref>{{citation |url = http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/edelaraudtee-sold-to-gb.html |archive-url = https://archive.today/20120913162120/http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/edelaraudtee-sold-to-gb.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = September 13, 2012 |title = Edelaraudtee sold to GB |date = 1 January 2001 |work = railwaygazette.com |publisher = [[Railway Gazette International]] }}</ref> Accordingly, GB Railways owned 20% of the shares, with the majority owners being Edelaraudtee chairman Henn Ruubel and lawyer Marcel Vichmannile.<ref>{{citation |url = http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/5306/ |title = Rail deal unveils shady investors |date = 9 August 2001 |work = The Baltic Times}}</ref><ref>{{citation |url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQQ/is_10_41/ai_80898144/ |journal = [[International Railway Journal]] |date = October 2001 |title = Estonia Passenger Services Restored – World Report}}</ref><ref>{{citation |url = http://www.epl.ee/news/eesti/article.php?id=50806908 |title = Vichmann ja Ruubel said Edelaraudtee põhilisteks omanikeks |language = Estonian |work = epl.ee |date = 2 August 2001}}</ref> In 2002, GB Railways' investment in the company was only valued at £70,000; the British business provided management to the company on a fee basis.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.grandavenue.plus.com/MyWeb/Home_files/GBR%20Annual%20Report%202002.pdf |title = Annual Report 2002 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110112064158/http://www.grandavenue.plus.com/MyWeb/Home_files/GBR%20Annual%20Report%202002.pdf |archive-date = 12 January 2011 |publisher = GB Railways plc |date = 31 March 2002}}</ref> Around this time, the State Audit Office publicly criticised the [[subsidy]] system in use upon Estonia's railways and called for reforms.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.riigikontroll.ee/Suhtedavalikkusega/Pressiteated/tabid/168/557GetPage/1/557Year/2002/ItemId/255/amid/557/language/en-US/Default.aspx |title = Subsidization of passenger trains is economically inefficient |publisher = riigikontroll.ee |date = 10 February 2002}}</ref>

During 2008, Edelaraudtee announced that it would withdraw entirely from conducting freight operations on its own infrastructure and would instead focus on passenger transport.<ref name = "global 2008"/> It was speculated that [[Estonian Railways]] would launch freight operations on Pärnu and Viljandi lines as a consequence. At the time of the announcement, Edelaraudtee was one of three passenger operators running services on the infrastructure of Estonian Railways.<ref name = "global 2008">{{cite web |url = https://www.globalrailwayreview.com/article/854/significant-developments-help-future-sustainability/ |title = Significant developments help future sustainability |publisher = globalrailwayreview.com |date = 8 April 2008}}</ref> By January 2012, Edelaraudtee was Estonia’s largest passenger railway operator; that month, the company's trains transported 145,000 passengers, the greater number of travellers recorded in the five years prior. This improvement partially explained by the recent completion of renovation work on the Tallinn-Viljandi line.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/30570/ |title = Edelaraudtee serviced a record amount of passengers in January |publisher = baltictimes.com |date = 15 February 2012}}</ref>

During early 2009, a new e-ticket booking system was introduced by Edelaraudtee, allowing passengers to purchase tickets from anywhere in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://testonica.com/all-news/testonica-lab-developed-and-delivered-new-e-ticket-booking-system-for-one-of-the-largest-railway-operators-in-estonia-edelaraudtee-as |title = Testonica delivered new e-ticket booking system for one of the largest railway operators in Estonia |publisher = testonica.com |date = 1 February 2009}}</ref> On 16 March 2012, the company launched a new information display solution based on [[GPS]], that provided passengers real-time information on the trains’ locations via the [[internet]] and physical displays. The developed information project, whose part is that solution, had an objective to provide passengers necessary opportunities to acquire trip information. Edelaraudtee had plans to equip all serviced train stations and stops with [[QR code]]s to link passengers with relevant station’s or train stop’s information display on the Internet.<ref>{{cite news |first = Juhan |last = Tere |title = Edelaraudtee launched its GPS-based information system |url = http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/good_for_business/?doc=54716 |publisher = The Baltic Course |date = 16 March 2012 |access-date = 29 June 2012}}</ref>

On 1 January 2010, Edelaraudtee relaunched services on the [[Tartu]] to [[Valga, Estonia|Valga]] line after the line had previously been closed in April 2008 for extensive repair work.<ref>{{cite news |title = Taasavatud Tartu-Valga rongiliini esimene sõit osutus ülipopulaarseks |url = http://www.tartupostimees.ee/206511/taasavatud-tartu-valga-rongiliini-esimene-soit-osutus-ulipopulaarseks/ |publisher = tartupostimees.ee |language = Estonian |date = 30 December 2009 |access-date = 29 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first = Juhan |last = Tere |title = Tartu-Valga train connection to get relaunched from January |url = http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/transport/?doc=21537&underline=in+April+2008+due+to |publisher = The Baltic Course |date = 15 December 2009 |access-date = 29 June 2012}}</ref> Edelaraudtee operated two services per day between the two locations.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.edel.ee/images/uploads/file/REISIVEDU_ALATES_26_05_2013/s%C3%B5iduplaan%20_2013_alates_2605_valga(1).pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-06-12 |archive-date=2014-01-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104064156/http://www.edel.ee/images/uploads/file/REISIVEDU_ALATES_26_05_2013/s%C3%B5iduplaan%20_2013_alates_2605_valga(1).pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> During 2012, following completion of upgrade work on the line between [[Türi]] and [[Viljandi]],  120kmph running was permitted,<ref>http://www.edel.ee/uudised/33/readmore/552/{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> reducing the journey time to [[Viljandi]] by 20 minutes, for a total travel time of 2 hours and 22 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wayback Machine |url=http://www.edel.ee/images/uploads/file/REISIVEDU_ALATES_26_05_2013/s%C3%B5iduplaan%20_2013_alates_2605_tlv_vilj_p%C3%A4rnu(1).pdf |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20140112111345/http://www.edel.ee/images/uploads/file/REISIVEDU_ALATES_26_05_2013/s%C3%B5iduplaan%20_2013_alates_2605_tlv_vilj_p%C3%A4rnu(1).pdf |archive-date=2014-01-12 |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=www.edel.ee}}</ref>

=== End of passenger services ===
In May 2013, the Estonian government declared that [[Elron (rail transit)|Eesti Liinirongid]], later rebranded as ''Elron'', would be the sole domestic passenger operator in Estonia, compelling Edelaraudtee to reorientate its operations away from this sector.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://news.postimees.ee/1238210/estonian-rail-operator-edelaraudtee-sends-train-to-kazakhstan-for-trials |title = Estonian rail operator Edelaraudtee sends train to Kazakhstan for trials |publisher = news.postimees.ee |date = 16 May 2013}}</ref> A legal dispute between Edelaraudtee and the Estonian government broke out over compensation for lost revenue from the operator's forced withdrawal from passenger services.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://news.err.ee/108056/edelaraudtee-demands-5-million-from-state |title = Edelaraudtee Demands €5 Million From State |publisher = news.err.ee |date = 23 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.baltic-course.com/eng/transport/?doc=126636 |title = Estonia's Edelaraudtee turns down EUR 2.1 mln compensation |publisher = baltic-course.com |date = 4 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://news.err.ee/655403/pending-supreme-court-ruling-state-might-have-to-pay-2-8m-to-edelaraudtee |title = Pending Supreme Court ruling, state might have to pay €2.8m to Edelaraudtee |publisher = news.err.ee |date = 21 January 2018}}</ref> The final day of Edeleraudtee's service was December 31, 2013, however the final [[Tallinn Baltic Station|Tallinn]]-[[Türi]] train called at Kolu station and Türi station after midnight, on January 1, 2014. All of Edelaraudtee's station stops open on its final day of operation were taken over, except for Kolu stop. 

During 2017, Edelaraudtee publicly stated its regret in response to the Estonian government's decision to discontinue train traffic on the [[Lelle]]-[[Pärnu]] section of the railway network to avoid the need to expend approximately €17 million.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.baltictimes.com/edelaraudtee__estonia_to_lose_comprehensive_railway_network/ |title = Edelaraudtee: Estonia to lose comprehensive railway network |publisher = baltictimes.com |date = 18 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://bnn-news.com/estonia-to-close-railway-line-and-wait-for-rail-baltica-193449 |title = Estonia to close railway line and wait for Rail Baltica |publisher = bnn-news.com |date = 6 November 2018}}</ref> Throughout the 2010s, Edelaraudtee examined various opportunities to increase the operating speeds of certain lines, often in collaboration with Elron.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://baltics.news/2020/08/26/speed-%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8Btests-confirm-that-tallinn-viljandi-train-could-run-faster/ |title = Speed tests confirm that Tallinn-Viljandi train could run faster |publisher = baltics.news |date = 26 August 2020}}</ref>

In 2021, Edelaraudtee opened a new control center in Türi; built at a cost of €3 million, this center will be fed all infrastructure data and remove the need for station managers to be present. Information is displayed digitally, and has been structured in a manner which permits control operations to be entirely automated.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://news.err.ee/1608300621/gallery-edelaraudtee-opens-new-control-center-in-turi |title = Gallery: Edelaraudtee opens new control center in Türi |publisher = news.err.ee |date = 7 August 2021}}</ref>

Under the [[Rail Baltica]] programme, a new [[high-speed railway]] trunk line will be built between the three Baltic states; it is planned to intersect with Edelaraudtee's existing infrastructure along the Loone-Hagudi section.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.railbaltica.org/the-construction-tender-for-the-next-section-of-the-rail-baltica-mainline-was-announced/ |title = The construction tender for the next section of the Rail Baltica mainline was announced |publisher = railbaltica.org |date = 16 June 2023}}</ref>

==Rolling stock==
Freight operations are handled by [[Czech Republic|Czech]]-built [[ChME3]] [[Diesel locomotive|diesel]] [[shunter]]s, while passenger services were provided by around twenty [[DR1 diesel train|DR1A/B]] [[diesel multiple unit]]s.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}

Delivery of 18 electric and 20 diesel [[Stadler FLIRT]] trains built by [[Stadler Rail]] started in 2012, and by June 2014 all trains had arrived in Estonia.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://uus.elektriraudtee.ee/ajakava/ |title = Elektriraudtee &#124; Ajakava |access-date = 11 June 2013 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130610055846/http://uus.elektriraudtee.ee/ajakava/ |archive-date = 10 June 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/10/elektriraudtee-orders-stadler-flirt-trains.html |title = Elektriraudtee orders Stadler Flirt trains |date = 12 April 2010 |work = [[Railway Gazette International]]}}</ref> Since 2014, all services are operated by [[Elron (rail transit)|Elron]] using the new trains.<ref>{{Cite web |url = http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/transport/?doc=74815 |title = Elektriraudtee's new trains achieve historic speed |publisher = baltic-course.com}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Tallinn-Tapa railway]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}

{{Coord|58.808302|N|25.407375|E|type:landmark_region:EE|display=title}}

{{Rail network infrastructure companies|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Railway companies of Estonia]]
[[Category:1997 establishments in Estonia]]
[[Category:Railway companies established in 1997]]
[[Category:Railway infrastructure managers]]