No activities have been planned for 2026 in the process of preaparing the NSP.
The aim of the NSP for the Ring Railway at the time of its initiation was to plan a Tallinn Ring Railway, which would create an opportunity to redirect freight transport from the centre of Tallinn to Paldiski, which has so far been carried out from Kopli Station. This was intended to create a safer and faster route for freight transport and increase the competitiveness of Estonia's logistics sector, while also supporting the development of Estonia's largest ports, Paldiski and Muuga. It was also intended to create better opportunities for the further development of passenger train traffic in the Ülemiste-Paldiski/Turba (in the long term, Haapsalu/Rohuküla) direction.
In 2023, the starting points for the pre-selection of the location of the NSP for the Tallinn Ring Railway, the assessment of relevant impacts, including the SEA programme and the socio-economic impact analysis (SMA), were prepared. The SMA analysis shows that from 2006 to the end of 2022, freight volumes on the railway have fallen from 45 million tonnes to 6 million tonnes. Railway freight volumes have decreased significantly and this has been a deepening trend. Therefore, the initial goal of the NSP is no longer up-to-date and the planning of the new railway must be based primarily on the development of public transport.
Order No. 36 of the Government of the Republic of 26.01.2023 in the Riigi Teataja.
Planning area
The decision to initiate the NSP defined the planning area, which was based on the county plan and included the following local government units in Harju County: the city of Tallinn, Jõelähtme rural municipality, Raasiku rural municipality, Rae rural municipality, Kiili rural municipality, Saku rural municipality, Harku rural municipality, Saue rural municipality, Keila urban municipality, Lääne-Harju rural municipality and Kohila rural municipality and Rapla rural municipality in Rapla County. The size of the planning area was approximately 636 km2 at the time of the initiation of the NSP.
The planning area was determined over a wider area in order not to pre-select the location of the railway before the NSP procedure was carried out and to enable, if necessary, changing the location of the railway route alternatives and adding additional alternatives during the preparation of the plan and the assessment of its impacts.
A detailed solution will be established in the area necessary for the construction of the circular railway.
Consideration for the environment and people
The construction of the railway helps to reduce the environmental footprint of the transport system. The Transport and Mobility Development Plan until 2035 envisages increasing the share of rail freight transport to up to 40% (26% in 2019). The aim is also to develop passenger train traffic, offering an environmentally sustainable mode of transport for everyday travel. The planning process takes into account values and constraints that are important for both people and wildlife.
Collaboration and engagement
The preparation of the Tallinn Ring Railway NSP is a public and broad-based co-creation process, in which all interested parties can participate through various formats (e.g. working meetings, idea seminars, public discussions). The main objectives of involvement and participation are:
- to achieve a balanced planning solution that takes into account the interests of different groups;
- informing the public
The involvement is based on the principle that the preparation of the Tallinn Ring Railway NSP and the assessment of impacts is an open process and is carried out based on public interest. The input and ideas of interest groups who wish to contribute to the process are expected and important.
Contact
Project manager
Media contact
Geili Heinmaa
[email protected]
+372 5850 3951
Last updated: 17.03.2026
