On 13 August, the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority (TTJA) set the railway infrastructure usage charges, which will be valid for the 2026/2027 timetable period from 13 December 2026 to 12 December 2027. The new usage charges will continue with targeted incentives aimed at making railways more competitive for freight transport, creating new and maintaining existing freight flows, and diverting transport from road to rail. Compared to the previous year, the discount for the transport of mining waste was extended to mining waste crushed stone, and a reduced usage charge for regular intra-Baltic container/container train was separately highlighted on the infrastructure of Estonian Railways.
The rail freight market continues to be volatile and when setting user charges, a balance must be found between covering infrastructure costs, the solvency of carriers and the country’s broader transport and climate goals. TTJA believes that it is justified to continue with targeted incentives where they help shift freight from road to rail. Railways allow for the transport of larger volumes of goods with less environmental impact and reduce the pressure on road infrastructure.
The discount applied to Rail Baltic construction materials helps to bring significant transport volumes from road to rail. Therefore, the discount for the transport of waste rock was also extended to waste rock aggregate. The discount applies to the infrastructure of Estonian Railways on the railway line Jõhvi–Ülemiste–Tallinn-Kopli–Tallinn-Väike up to km 3+001 and to the infrastructure of Edelaraudtee AS on the railway line Tallinn-Väike from km 3+001 / Ülemiste–Liiva–Lelle–Pärnu. The usage fee for transport on both infrastructures is set at 0.00171 euros per gross tonne-kilometre.
The discount in the freight transport segment “Domestic/intra-EU freight transport” will continue on the railway lines Valga–Muuga, Valga–Vaivara and Valga–Koidula–Tartu, as the previous reasons for implementing the exemption have not disappeared. In addition, a reduced rate for regular intra-Baltic container/container train trains has been separately introduced in the new period to support the prerequisites for the development of intra-Baltic rail transport.
In addition, the surcharge discount will continue for trains heading to or arriving from third countries if the country of origin or destination of the goods is Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan and the transport takes place on the Valga/Koidula–Muuga/Vaivara or Narva–Muuga sections. The aim of the discount is to support the development of new transit flows through Estonia, keep the Estonian railway corridor competitive and encourage the growth of freight volumes in a situation where rail freight volumes remain low.
User fees were set based on an updated methodology
The user charges for the 2026/2027 timetable period were set based on the updated “Railway Infrastructure User Charge Calculation Methodology”, which entered into force on 1 March 2026. The most important change is that the user charge will now be set no later than four months before the start of the timetable period. Earlier decisions give carriers more time to plan their costs, budgets and contracts.
What is the railway infrastructure usage fee and how is it formed?
The railway infrastructure charge is a fee paid by railway undertakings to the railway infrastructure manager for the use of the infrastructure to cover the costs of its maintenance and traffic management and to ensure the operation of the train service.
The user charge consists of two parts: the minimum access package (MAP) charge and additional charges. The MAP covers costs directly related to train traffic, such as track wear and maintenance, and is the same for all carriers. Surcharges are additional charges that are calculated according to the ability of different market segments and carriers to pay them. The purpose of the surcharges is to allow full coverage of the infrastructure costs, including costs that cannot be directly attributed to train traffic.
The procedure for determining railway user charges is carried out in accordance with the regulation “Methodology for calculating railway infrastructure user charges” (https://www.riigiteataja.ee/et/akt/126022026010). The corresponding regulation sets out specific requirements that the TTJA must apply when determining user charges.
About the user fees for the new timetable period
The MAP for the 2026/2027 timetable period for Estonian Railways was 0.53 euros per train/km and 0.00326 euros per gross tonne/km. For Edelaraudtee AS, it was 0.00845 euros per gross tonne/km.
For the 2026/2027 timetable period, the total user charge (MAP + surcharges) for passenger transport on the infrastructure of Estonian Railways will be 1.93 euros per train-kilometre and 0.00953 euros per gross tonne-kilometre. On the infrastructure of Edelaraudtee AS, the total user charge (MJP + surcharges) for passenger transport related to the public service contract will be 10.36 euros per train-kilometre and 0.00845 euros per gross tonne-kilometre.
The usage fee rates can be found on the TTJA website.
The new user fees will take effect on December 13, 2026.
Source: TTJA website “TTJA continues to promote rail freight transport with new user fees | Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority“
(Source: https://www.evr.ee/et/uudised/3553-jatkatakse-raudtee-kaubavedude-soodustamist-uute-kasutustasudega)
