First PESA tram arrives in Tallinn

In June 2021, PESA, the Polish tram manufacturer based in Bydgoszcz, received a contract from the transport operator in the Estonian capital, Tallinn Transport, for the delivery of eight low-floor trams, with an option for 15 more. That option was exercised so 23 are now on order with a contract value of EUR 52M. The first of these left the factory in late May and was due to arrive in Tallinn on 31 May. All 23 will arrive before the end of 2025. 

 

The trams are three-section cars of the Twist design, 28.65m long with space for 184 passengers (65 seated). The tram will now be commissioned and tested on the metre-gauge infrastructure and should be carrying passengers before the end of the year. 

 

The trams have a modern information and ticketing system and video surveillance to ensure safety. They will run on 100% green electricity, while regenerative barking will reduce power consumption.  

 

Tallinn (population 404 000) has a five-line 19.7km (12.2-mile) tramway that carries about 26M passengers/year on 47 trams. The last delivery was 20 CAF Urbos in 2015-2016. A new 2.5km line to the old port is under construction, but a link to the airport opened in 2017 but is out of use until 2025 while the Rail Baltic terminal is constructed. Plans are being progressed for two new tram lines by 2029.