TALLINN, Feb 4 (LETA--BNS) - Preparations for the launch of the Tartu-Riga rail passenger line are ongoing, with test runs started on Latvian railway infrastructure on Tuesday, representatives of Estonian state-owned railway operator Eesti Liinirongid, which operates under the Elron brand, informed.

A two-car Stadler Flirt train will be making test runs between Valga in Estonia and Riga until Thursday. Elron's test runs are supported by Latvian rail passenger carrier Pasazieru Vilciens. The train's first arrival at the Riga Central Station is scheduled shortly before 6 p.m. on Thursday.

The test runs are necessary to certify Stadler Flirt trains on the Latvian railway infrastructure and to start direct passenger service between Tartu and Riga via Valga.

Elron board member Mart Ehrenpreis said that Latvian infrastructure monitoring systems, security systems, radio communication and other systems will be checked as part of the test runs. The whole railway line, including necessary access lines, will be inspected. The permit for the test runs is valid until June, so that additional tests can be performed if needed.

The Tartu-Valga-Riga passenger train connection is being prepared in cooperation with the Ministry of Climate, the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture, the City of Tartu, the Latvian passenger train operator Vivi, and other Latvian cooperation partners.

On January 6, a once-daily passenger train connection with two transfers was launched between Tallinn-Tartu-Valga-Riga-Vilnius, operated by Elron between Tallinn-Valga, by Latvian passenger train operator Vivi between Valga-Riga, and by Lithuanian passenger train operator LTG Link between Riga-Vilnius. Initially, tickets can be purchased separately from each passenger train operator's website, app, ticket machine, or from a customer service representative on the train.