Tram tunnel completed at Rail Baltica Ülemiste hub in Tallinn

Construction of the tram tunnel beneath the future Rail Baltica Ülemiste terminal in Tallinn has been completed, marking a major step forward in creating a seamless rail and air transport hub for Estonia’s capital.

A key link between airport, city centre and Rail Baltica

The new tram tunnel sits at the heart of Tallinn’s emerging Ülemiste transport node, where the Rail Baltica high speed line will connect with existing rail, bus and air services. Publicly available project documentation describes Ülemiste as Tallinn’s future main railway station, replacing the current fragmented layout with a purpose built multimodal hub.

The tunnel will allow trams to pass beneath the Rail Baltica infrastructure, providing grade separated access between the city centre, Ülemiste district and Tallinn Airport. Previous arrangements already linked the airport to the tram network, but services were suspended and rerouted while Rail Baltica construction advanced around the airport approach.

With the tunnel structure now in place, project information indicates that the focus will shift to systems installation, track works and integration with the wider city tram network. The tunnel is designed to accommodate intensive services on the lines that will connect the airport and Ülemiste terminal with central Tallinn and the Old City harbour.

The completed structure is seen as one of the most technically complex elements of the Ülemiste area works, given the need to maintain surrounding road and rail operations while creating space for the standard gauge Rail Baltica tracks and terminal platforms above.

Milestone for Rail Baltica works in northern Estonia

The Ülemiste terminal is one of the flagship sites on the Rail Baltica corridor, a new standard gauge railway intended to link Tallinn with Riga, Kaunas, Warsaw and the wider European rail network. According to published Rail Baltica progress material, construction in Estonia has in recent years concentrated heavily on the capital’s approaches and on the future terminal zone.

Completion of the tram tunnel indicates that a significant portion of the underground structural work at Ülemiste is moving towards an advanced stage. Earlier project updates outlined a phased approach, starting with relocation of existing broad gauge tracks, followed by major underground works for the terminal building and associated transport links.

While the full Rail Baltica main line is scheduled to open later in the decade, the Ülemiste area has been a visible construction site for several years. The tunnel’s completion provides a tangible sign of progress for residents who have experienced diversions, noise and changes to tram operations during the works.

Transport observers note that infrastructure such as the tram tunnel must be finished well before the first high speed trains begin running, in order to allow time for fit out, testing and trial operations across the entire multimodal complex.

Designing a multimodal gateway for Tallinn

Ülemiste’s future role goes beyond serving high speed trains. Plans presented in official project material and national transport strategies envisage the terminal as a gateway linking regional rail, long distance buses, city buses and trams, as well as providing a short connection to the airport terminal building.

The tram tunnel is integral to that vision, enabling tram services to operate safely and reliably under the railway tracks and terminal concourse. Grade separation between trams, road traffic and heavy rail is expected to improve safety and regularity, while also freeing surface space for pedestrian routes, station forecourts and new development.

Architectural concepts for Ülemiste highlight a large public plaza and integrated concourse where passengers can transfer between modes within a compact footprint. By routing the tram line in a tunnel, planners aim to minimise conflicts at street level and offer direct, weather protected interchange corridors between trams, platforms and terminal amenities.

For air travellers, the tunnel will support a short tram ride between the airport and the new rail station, creating a combined air rail gateway that connects Tallinn more directly with other Baltic capitals and, via Poland, with the rest of the European Union.

Impact on Tallinn’s tram operations and travellers

The tram network in Tallinn has undergone several adjustments in recent years as construction around Ülemiste and the airport progressed. Line patterns and temporary termini were introduced to accommodate works on the Rail Baltica corridor and related infrastructure, including the new tunnel.

With structural completion achieved, attention is turning to restoring and enhancing direct tram services linking the airport and Ülemiste with the harbour and city centre once systems and safety approvals are in place. This is expected to improve journey times for both residents and visitors, particularly those arriving by air or ferry who are seeking an easy transfer to long distance trains in the future.

For the city, the tunnel should help reduce congestion at surface level, as trams will no longer need to navigate at grade crossings close to the railway alignment. Better separation of modes can also support higher tram frequencies without imposing additional delays on road traffic.

Tourism stakeholders have highlighted the strategic value of a smooth public transport link between the airport, Rail Baltica terminal and Old Town area, which concentrates much of Tallinn’s visitor accommodation and attractions. The completed tunnel brings that integrated link closer to reality, even as the broader Rail Baltica project continues towards its later construction phases.

Next steps for the Ülemiste terminal and Rail Baltica corridor

With the tram tunnel in place, remaining works at Ülemiste will focus on the above ground terminal structures, internal fit out and the installation of rail systems. Project schedules envisage the full terminal complex opening in parallel with the wider Rail Baltica line through Estonia later in the decade.

Beyond Tallinn, construction contracts and works have been advancing along multiple sections of the corridor in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Progress at key nodes such as Ülemiste and Riga Airport is viewed as particularly important for demonstrating the benefits of the project to passengers and airlines even before the complete high speed route is operational.

Publicly available information suggests that further milestones are expected in the coming years as bridge works, track laying and electrification proceed. For residents of Tallinn and frequent travellers, the completed tram tunnel stands as an early, visible piece of a much larger effort to reshape how the Baltic states connect with each other and with the rest of Europe.