AS Eesti Raudtee is actively working on the electrification of the Tapa–Tartu railway and is now also starting work in the direction of Narva. This week, two contracts were signed with AS GRK Eesti, one of which, worth 81 million euros, includes the design and construction of the contact network and traction substations necessary for electric trains on the Tapa–Narva railway section. The second contract, worth 2.9 million euros, was signed for the maintenance of the contact network under construction for a five-year period after the contact network is completed. The contact network from Tapa to Narva will be ready for use in 2027.
“An international tender was published in the summer of this year to conclude the contracts, and as expected, there was great interest. This is the third similar tender for Estonian Railways to renew and expand the contact network. Thus, at the beginning of last year, a similar contract was concluded with the joint bidders GRK Suomi OY and GRK Eesti AS, and within the framework of this contract, the majority of the Aegviidu–Tapa–Tartu contact network has already been completed. At the beginning of this year, a contract was concluded with OÜ Leonhard Weiss, which will renew the contact network in the Lagedi–Aegviidu section,” commented Andrus Alas, Head of Energy at Estonian Railways.
According to Alas, they are satisfied with the results of the Tapa–Narva procurement, as GRK Eesti has gained a lot of valuable experience in building the Aegviidu–Tapa–Tartu contact network, and this will allow them to do their work well on the Tapa–Narva section as well.
“We are very grateful for the opportunity to participate in such an important project, which will contribute to the modernization and environmental friendliness of Estonian rail traffic. GRK’s previous experience in electrifying the Aegviidu–Tapa–Tartu section has created a strong foundation for the successful implementation of works on the Tapa–Narva section as well,” said Tiit Roben, CEO of GRK Estonia. “As part of the project, we are building a modern and reliable contact network that supports the development of rail traffic and ensures more convenient and faster service on the railway. GRK also has the capacity for long-term maintenance of the infrastructure being built to ensure its quality and reliability for years to come.”
The railway electrification project will increase the current electrified infrastructure of Estonian Railways from 237 kilometers to more than 700 kilometers and aims to make train transport faster, smoother and even more environmentally friendly. 85% of the project cost is financed by European Union funds and 15% by the Estonian state budget.
