Public transport in Tallinn

The first tram route in Tallinn was opened in 1888. For their first 30 years of operation, Tallinn's trams were pulled by horses. The horse-drawn tram lines ran on the Narva, Tartu and Pärnu main roads, routes that remain in use today. The first electric trams went on the line in 1920, which were built locally in Tallinn using German and Swedish equipment. The use of trams as public transport was very popular during the period of the independent Republic of Estonia before World War II and the German and Soviet occupations. In 1939, the Tallinn tram carried more than 143 million passengers.^[2]

Regular bus connections in Tallinn began in 1921 with five bus lines. By 2024, the bus system had 67 routes.^[3]

Plans for trolleybus services began in 1946, and the first trolleybus route in Tallinn opened in 1965, during Soviet Union's occupation of Estonia. There were nine trolleybus routes at their peak, with 160 trolleybuses operating in 1988. As of 2024, there are four remaining routes, with 45 operating trolleybuses.^[4]

The first passenger trains with steam locomotives began to serve the people of Tallinn and people living near the city in the 1870s. The country's first electric train line, operating between Tallinn and Pääsküla, opened in 1924. The Second World War was devastating for passenger train traffic. The retreating Red Army stole rolling stock in 1941, and the German occupiers dismantled the electricity grids. Passenger train traffic was reopened in 1944. Narrow-gauge railway passenger train traffic in Tallinn (with one of the most important stops at the port) operated from the beginning of the 20th century until the Soviet occupation forces liquidated them.^{[5][6][circular reference]}

Tallinn has been planning to construct a light rail service since 1970. The light rail project halted when Estonia regained independence from the Soviet Union's occupation, with planning resumed in the 2000s.^[7]

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Tallinn has 80 bus routes.^{[citation needed]} Buses are available throughout Tallinn, with Pirita, Lasnamäe, Haabersti and Nõmme particularly well served. Nearly all routes have two terminus stops, one of which also serves as a resting stop for drivers. Tallinna Transpordiamet (Tallinn Department of Transportation) sets the routes and timetables, and the contracts are renewed every five years.

Route numbers in Tallinn consist of one or two numbers, occasionally accompanied by a letter. Letters A or B are usually used when multiple bus lines follow mostly the same route but have different terminuses. For example, bus routes 18 and 18A both start from the same bus terminus and follow the same route but have different end terminuses. The letter E is used for express routes. A Park & Ride bus, route 1PR, operated from September 2007 until January 2009.

The city's main bus terminal is located under the Viru Keskus shopping centre in the city centre, where 10 bus routes start (1, 8A, 14, 18, 18A, 20A, 29, 34, 38, 44). Other major terminal stations include Väike-Õismäe, Keskuse, Seli, Baltic Station, Priisle, Kadaka, Vana-Pääsküla, Estonia Theatre and Kopli. New public transportation terminals are planned for Lilleküla between the railway station and Kristiine keskus, and in Ülemiste, between current Ülemiste railway station, T1 Mall of Tallinn and Ülemiste keskus).^[8][9]

Tallinn has very few "feeder lines" that connect bus passengers to other means of transport. Bus route 25 used to take passengers to the two trolleybus terminuses in Mustamäe but the route was closed in September 2020.^[10] Bus route 21A takes passengers to Väike-Õismäe, which used to be a trolleybus terminus, but now connects with another bus route.

Routes mostly operate between 5:20 am and 12:20 am. Some bus routes, mainly express routes, operate only during peak hours and have breaks between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. Since September 2012, express routes have the same ticket price as regular bus routes.

The scheduled bus intervals depend on route and time of day. Most routes to the high-density districts of Lasnamäe, Väike-Õismäe, Mustamäe, and Pelguranna (all built during the Soviet occupation) have typical intervals of 6–15 minutes, while typical scheduled bus intervals to the low-density districts of Nõmme and Pirita are 12–60 minutes. Some routes operate only on weekdays and only during rush hours.

In late 2008, popular bus and trolleybus routes' operating times were prolonged until 1 am but this did not continue. Four night bus lines began operating in 2023. These lines are operate between Balti jaam to Mustamäe, Väike-Õismäe, Pelguranna, and Priisle. Two more night bus lines were added in 2024. These lines are Balti jaam to Viimsi keskus and Balti jaam to Vana-Pääsküla. The use of night bus lines is free of charge for Tallinn residents. The services run every half hour until 4.30 am on Saturday and Sunday night. Discussions are underway whether to offer the service on Thursdays and Fridays as well.^[11] The most popular night bus lines are the Mustamäe, Priisle and Vana-Pääsküla lines.^[12]

The Tallinn Department of Transportation currently owns 530 buses.^[13] It bought 100 new environmentally-friendly Solaris Urbino 12 CNG and Solaris Urbino 18 CNG compressed gas buses from Solaris Bus & Coach, which entered into service in August 2020.^[14] Tallinn has since bought a further 250 compressed gas buses, making 350 in total, and plans to replace all older diesel buses by 2025. Only the newest Euro 6 emission standard-compliant diesel buses will remain in use alongside the gas buses, specifically the MAN Lion's City A78, MAN Lion's City GL / A40, and Volvo 7900 Hybrid.^[15]

15 electric buses Solaris Urbino 12 electric were added to the bus fleet^[when?] with an option for another 15 in 2024. These buses were considered suitable for the Nordic climate of Tallinn, as they had already been used in other Northern European countries such as Finland, Latvia, Sweden and Norway.^[16][17] TLT plans for buses to be fully electric by 2035.^{[citation needed]} Tallinn city government approved an additional budget in 2024, according to which Tallinn will purchase another 30 compressed gas buses for 12 million euros.^[18]

Number	Route
1	Viru keskus - Viimsi
2	Balti jaam - Mõigu
3	Vana-Lõuna - Pelguranna
4	Väike-Õismäe - Tiskre
5	Männiku - Viru - Metsakooli tee
6	Merivälja pansion - Metsakooli tee
7	Seli - Sõjamäe
8	Väike-Õismäe - Balti jaam - Äigrumäe
8A	Viru keskus - Äigrumäe, project ending December 2025
9E	Kadaka - Estonia - Priisle
10	Väike-Õismäe - Nõmme - Vana-Pääsküla
11E	Kadaka - Kaubamaja
12	Väike-Õismäe - Seli
13	Väike-Õismäe - Lennujaam - Priisle
14E	Viru keskus - Vana-Pääsküla
15	Estonia - Bussijaam - Sõjamäe
16	Väike-Õismäe - Estonia - Tallinn-Väike
18	Viru keskus - Laagri
18A	Viru keskus - Urda
20	Reisisadama D-terminal - Pääsküla jaam
20A	Viru keskus - Laagri alevik
21	Balti jaam - Landi
21A	Väike-Õismäe - Kakumäe
21B	Balti jaam - Kakumäe
23	Kadaka - Bussijaam
24	Kadaka - Estonia
25	Tiskre - Reisisadama D-Terminal
26	Väike-Õismäe - Paljassaare
26A	Väike-Õismäe - Paljassaare põik
27	Harkujärve - Laagri alevik
28	Vana-Lõuna - Väike-Õismäe
29	Viru keskus - Iru hooldekodu - Priisle
30	Seli - Iru - Kärmu
31	Priisle - Estonia
32	Männiku - Kopli
33	Männiku - Kopli
34	Viru keskus - Muuga aedlinn
35	Seli - Pelguranna
36	Väike-Õismäe - Nõmme - Viru
37	Mustamäe - Zoo
38	Viru keskus - Muuga
39	Vana-Lõuna - Liikuri
40	Priisle - Estonia - Pelguranna
41	Balti jaam - Landi
41B	Balti jaam - Kakumäe
42	Väike-Õismäe - Estonia - Priisle
44	Viru keskus - P. Pinna
45	Väike-Õismäe - Nõmme - Ülemiste
46	Väike-Õismäe - Estonia - Seli
47	Lennujaam - Peetri kool, project until 2025 December
48	Pirita Keskus - Vesse
49	Viimsi keskus - Lennujaam
50	Seli - Majaka põik
54	Väike-Õismäe - Bussijaam - Priisle
55	Hobujaama - P. Pinna
57	Raudalu - Kalev
58	Priisle - Majaka põik
59	Balti jaam - Pikakari
60	Seli - Maneeži
61	Kotermaa - Järve haigla
62	Väike-Õismäe - Mäeküla
63	Priisle - Maneeži
66	Priisle - Balti jaam - Pelguranna
67	Seli - Bussijaam - Sütiste
72	Keskuse - Kopli
73	Vana-Lõuna - Viru - Kopli liinid
81	Mustamäe - Kaubamaja
83	Mustamäe - Kaubamaja
84	Keskuse - Balti jaam
85	Mustamäe - Balti jaam

Number	Night Bus Route
91	Balti jaam - Mustamäe
92	Balti jaam - Väike-Õismäe
93	Balti jaam - Pelguranna
94	Balti jaam - Priisle
95	Balti jaam - Viimsi keskus
96	Balti jaam - Vana-Pääsküla

Regional bus routes are managed by the Harjumaa Ühistranspordikeskus (HÜTK) (Harju County Public Transportation Centre). The centre was established in early 2005 by 25 local governments of Harjumaa and the Government of the Harju County as the representative of the Republic of Estonia. The goal of the centre is to arrange public transportation in Harju County to raise the quality of the service provided. There are about 50 commercial lines in Harju County.

The tram system is operated by TLT. Tallinn's tram network is 19.7 kilometres (12.2 mi) long, and serves mainly the city centre and its surrounding areas. There are 5 tram lines and seven types of trams: Tatra KT4D (german model), Tatra KT4SU (Soviet Union model), Tatra KT4TM (modernized Tatra KT4s), Tatra KT4TMR (built from Tatra KT4 bodies to look like retro vehicles), Tatra KT6TM (which is like Tatra KT4 with a lowered middle-section, also modernized), CAF Urbos AXL and PESA Twist 147N. Twenty CAF Urbos AXL trams entered service in 2015/16.^[19] Twenty three PESA Twist trams entered service in 2024/2025.^[20] Of the 66 trams in Tallinn, 45 are in daily use during rush hour.^[21][22]

A line 4 extension to Tallinn Airport was opened on 1 September 2017, consisting of two new stops: Ülemiste linnak and Lennujaam (Airport). A tunnel was built to bypass the train tracks by Ülemiste jaam. Six old Tatra KT4 trams were fully renovated in 2016–2017 to imitate the look of early 20th century trams, all of which operated on line 3 and after depot reassignment on line 1 and 5.^[23][24] 12 old Tatra KT6s and 2 KT4s were fully modernized in 2017–2018.^[25] This means that new or fully modernized trams make up about 95% of all trams in Tallinn.

International procurement for purchasing 8 new trams to Tallinn was started in late 2019, with an option to buy 15 more.^[26] In 2022, the Polish company Pojazdy Szynowe PESA Bydgoszcz (PESA) won the contract to supply up to 23 new trams to TLT for 52 million euros. The first new trams were delivered in 2024. The tram model offered by PESA is PESA Twist, which is adapted to the gauge of Tallinn. The 28.6-metre (93 ft 10 in)-long, six-door trams have 65 seats and can accommodate a total of 300 passengers. In addition to PESA, two other companies took part in the procurement but were unsuccessful: the Spanish company Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) and the joint Finnish-Czech tenderers Škoda Transtech and Škoda Transportation.^[27][28] According to the plans, the new trams will primarily serve the new Vanasadama (Old Town Harbour) line.^[29]

Tallinn city government approved an additional budget in 2024 to purchase another 10 new trams for 35 million euros. These trams should arrive by 2027 to cover the needs of the additional line network capacity in the direction of Pelguranna and Liivalaia. The winner of this tender has not yet been announced.^[18]

TLT began selling its old KT4 trams in 2024, and it plans to sell all un-modernized trams.^[30] By 2028, Tallinn should have a total of 73 trams, of which 53 will be modern trams and 20 will be modernized trams.

Number	Route	Additional information
1	Kopli — Kadriorg	All low-floor rolling stock only at weekends and holidays.[31]
2	Kopli — Vanasadam – Suur-Paala	All low-floor rolling stock every day.[31] Will start servicing TLL airport some time in 2026.
3	Tondi — Kadriorg	All low-floor rolling stock every day.[31]
4	Tondi — Suur-Paala	All low-floor rolling stock every day.[31]
5	Kopli – Vana-Lõuna	All low-floor rolling stock only at weekends and holidays.[31]
6	Kopli — Tondi CLOSED (substituted by the route #5)
7	Kopli — Lennujaam (Airport) CLOSED (a temporary route used on special occasions and in case of line closures)

TLT AS operates with 45 trolleybuses. It operates Solaris Trollino 12 and Solaris Trollino 18 trolleybuses, made by Solaris Bus & Coach. Trolleybuses serve the western part of Tallinn, mainly in the Mustamäe district. Trolleybus lines are typically scheduled with 8- to 15-minute intervals between vehicles.

Trolleybus services began in 1965 with a route from the Estonian National Opera "Estonia" to Hipodroom (Hippodrome). Since 2000, several trolleybus lines have been replaced with buses.^[32][33] As of 2024^[update] there are four remaining trolleybus routes: 1, 3, 4 and 5 from the city centre (Kaubamaja and Baltic Station) to Mustamäe.

In 2024, Tallinn city government approved an additional to purchase 40 new trolleybuses with off-wire capability for 29 million euros. This will replace the entire existing trolleybus fleet. The winner of the tender has not yet been announced. The removal of older trolleybuses from the lines will begin in 2024.^[18]

Number	Route
1	Mustamäe – Kaubamaja (Central Department Store) via Mustamäe tee
3	Mustamäe — Kaubamaja (Central Department Store) via Sõpruse puiestee
4	Keskuse — Balti jaam (Baltic Station) via Sõpruse puiestee
5	Mustamäe — Balti jaam (Baltic Station) via Mustamäe tee

The Elron commuter trains are officially regional trains.^{[citation needed]} They serve the Greater Tallinn Area in Harju County and travel through the Kristiine, Nõmme and Lasnamäe districts of the city. They are used mostly by residents of Harju County and Nõmme district, the southernmost district of Tallinn.^{[citation needed]} The trains terminate at Tallinn Baltic Station in the Kesklinn district, close to the Põhja-Tallinn district. Railway transport is free for registered city residents within the city borders (1st zone).^[34] Trains on westbound lines in Tallinn are typically scheduled with 10- to 20-minute intervals at rush hour (6 am to 8:30 am and 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm), and at 20 minute intervals at other times. While eastbound and southwestbound lines have irregular service.^[35] Trains are in service typically from 5:15 am to 11:45 pm, depending on the direction and line. Nõmme district has installed bicycle parking in every railway station in the district to encourage commuter train use by its residents. Currently there are no appropriate feeder bus routes for the commuter train in Nõmme district.^[36]

Elron has operated Stadler Flirt EMU and DMU trains since 2013. New Škoda 7Ev electric commuter trains started operating from December 15, 2025 on Tallinn–Kloogaranna line and from January 5, 2026 on the reopened Tallinn–Tapa line. New trains on the Tallinn–Tartu inter-city line will also serve the Eastern line inside of Tallinn. The arrival of new trains between 2024 and 2026 will gradually solve the shortage of rolling stock and allow more frequent services on all routes, as Stadler Flirt EMUs will be allocated to Western line and some Stadler Flirt DMUs to South-Western line.^[37][38]

As of January 2026, the following commuter train routes operate from Tallinn Baltic Station:

Number	Route	Electrified
R11	Tallinn — Pääsküla	yes
R12	Tallinn — Keila	yes
R13	Tallinn — Kloogaranna	yes
R14	Tallinn — Paldiski	yes
R15	Tallinn — Paldiski (via Laoküla station)	yes
R16	Tallinn — Turba	yes
R17	Tallinn – Turba (via Jaanika station)	yes
R21	Tallinn — Rapla	no
R22	Tallinn — Türi	no
R30	Tallinn – Tapa	yes
R31	Tallinn – Aegviidu	yes
RE12	Tallinn – Keila (high-speed train)	yes
RE14	Tallinn – Paldiski (high-speed train)	yes
RE16	Turba – Tallinn (high-speed train)	yes

Almost all commuter trains, except for the trains R21, R22, R30 and R31, run in the western direction (towards Paldiski/Turba). Trains R21 and R22 go beyond Harju County to Rapla County and Järva County, respectively. They also serve residents of Tallinn and the Harju County.

Tallinn has a ferry connection to Aegna island. Since Aegna doesn't have many residents, the ferry is mostly used by tourists and is operated only in the summertime, usually from May to October. The route is operated by Spinnaker OÜ with the high-speed craft Vegtind. The journey from Patarei harbor to Aegna takes 30 minutes. City residents can use the ferry for free.^[39][40]

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Tallinn buses, trams and trolleybuses use a unified ticket system. Harju County routes and commuter trains (Elron) have a different fare system, which depends on the distance traveled. Preparations are underway for a more uniform ticket system throughout Harju County.^{[citation needed]}

In a public opinion poll on 25 March 2012, over 75% of the participants voted for fare-free transit on Tallinn's public transport system. Public transport has been fare-free for Tallinn residents since 1 January 2013,^[41] making Tallinn the first European capital abolishing fares for city residents. Later, Elron and Tallinn city council reached an agreement so that urban routes (1st zone) of commuter trains have free for city residents since January 2013. Free travel is also available for anyone under the age of 7, passengers with children under 3 years of age, and residents of Estonia aged 65 or over.^[42] Fares continue to be charged to other non-residents of the city (including tourists and visitors).

Non-residents can use the travel card (Ühiskaart) to load cash for single tickets, different period tickets, and other special tickets. Discount tickets are eligible to use for students, pensioners and disabled people. Public transport vehicles can generally be entered from all doors, and tickets (Ühiskaart) should be validated immediately upon entry.

The front validators on buses, trolley buses and trams support contactless and QR-code-based methods of validation. One-hour tickets can be bought with contactless bank card from the ticket/validation machine. Day tickets are also available. The system tracks passengers' usage and charges their bank account for the cheapest ticket they are entitled to, either one-hour tickets or a whole-day ticket. Buying a ticket with cash was discontinued in buses, trams and trolleybuses in 2020.^[43] Card and cash payments are available on commuter trains. Commuters who have Elron's Transport card can load money to the card to purchase a ticket from the ticket machine located in all train entrances.^[44][45]

Most public transport vehicles in Tallinn operate on a proof-of-payment system. As of July 2008, Tallinn Municipal Police fare inspectors randomly check tickets, stopping vehicles between stops so no one can leave the vehicle unnoticed. A fine (maximum of €40) is charged to any passenger without a valid ticket. If a passenger has forgotten their ID-card, they can tell the ticket controller their social security number to proves their right to travel. Since 1 January 2013, fare-free travelers (except those who could travel for before) have to validate their Public Transport Card (Ühiskaart); if they fail to do validation methods or show their ID card, they can be fined €40.^{[clarification needed]}