TALLINN, July 18 (LETA--BNS) - Estonian state-owned passenger train operator Elron and Latvian passenger train operator AS Pasažieru vilciens are launching an additional Tallinn-Tartu-Riga connection on weekends from Friday.

The train will depart on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 1:23 p.m. from Tallinn, at 4:14 p.m. from Tartu and arrive in Riga at 8:17 p.m.

"Interest in train travel between Estonia and Latvia has been growing steadily since the beginning of the year," Elron management board chairman Lauri Betlem said. "Therefore, we have additionally coordinated timetables with our southern neighbors to make it possible to add a second train connection with a transfer to Riga on weekends. The tight schedule of the Tapa-Tartu railway reconstruction currently prevents the establishment of an additional connection from Riga to Estonia."

Raitis Nešpors, chairman of the management board of AS Pasažieru vilciens, said that the Tallinn-Riga-Vilnius route, which was launched on Jan. 6, has started well despite the change in Valga, and it has gained popularity among passengers.

"This has shown the need for passenger train connections between the Baltic states. The Vilnius-Riga line, which has been operating for over a year, is very popular among passengers," Nešpors said. "Now we see that passenger interest in the Riga-Tartu-Tallinn connection is also on the rise. That is why we are trying to create additional trips with transfers between the two countries in cooperation."

The Tallinn-Riga-Vilnius train departs Tallinn every day at 10:10 a.m. and arrives in Riga at 4:37 p.m.

An additional Tallinn-Tartu-Riga connection will be introduced starting July 18, with the train departing from Tallinn at 1:23 p.m., from Tartu at 4:14 p.m., and arriving in Riga at 8:17 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

The train from Riga to Tartu and Tallinn departs every day at 11:20 a.m. and arrives in Tartu at 3:10 p.m. and in Tallinn at 5:57 p.m.

Starting in March, people can also travel by train from Narva, Jõhvi, Kiviõli and Rakvere to both Latvia and Lithuania. The train to Tartu, Riga and Vilnius departs from Narva every day at 9:45 a.m., with transfers at Tapa and Valga stations.

The Tallinn-Tartu-Riga-Vilnius connection was launched in cooperation with Elron, Vivi and Lithuania's LTG Link on Jan. 6. Elron is also continuing preparations for the Tartu-Riga passenger train line with a view to opening it in 2025.