Vanasadam Harbour tram route completed
The grand opening of the latest addition to the Tallinn public transport network, a tram line spur stopping at the city centre port, was well attended by many stakeholders and Tallinners.
At the event held on A. Laikmaa street between the Viru Keskus shopping mall and the Merko-renovated Tallinn City Hotel, Tallinn Mayor Jevgeni Ossinovski reiterated the importance of public transit to a growing city such as Tallinn. “I’m glad that the multi-year Vanasadam project is ready and besides the new tram tracks we have built a modern pedestrian district where both cyclists and strollers can feel at home. I’m particularly pleased by the Kaubamaja (Department Store) intersection, where pedestrians can again cross the street without dropping into a tunnel.“
The ribbon-cutting for the new tramway was performed by Ossinovski along with Minister of Infrastructure Vladimir Svet, chairman of the city council Toomas Kruusimägi, deputy mayors Pärtel-Peeter Pere and Kristjan Järvan, deputy head of the Estonian office of the European Commission in the capacity of the director Ave Schank-Lukas, member of the management board of AS Tallinna Linnatransport Kaido Padar, chairman of the management board of Merko Ehitus Eesti Jaan Mäe, member of the management board of KMG Infra Indrek Pappel, director of Viru Keskus Gertti Kogermann and chairman of the management board of Rail Baltic Estonia, Anvar Salomets.
After the ceremony, there was a chance for the public to take a test ride to the port on one of the trams. At the harbour, chairman of the management board of Port of Tallinn Valdo Kalm and his team welcomed passengers and a commemorative plaque marking the launch of tram service to the port was installed, while slackline athlete Jaan Roose, the Tallinn police band and an “environmentally friendly traveller” played by actor Peeter Oja entertained the crowd.
The tramway was designed and built by Merko Ehitus Eesti and KMG Infra. The contract for the work was signed in August 2022, construction lasted from spring 2023 to autumn 2024 and resulted in the establishment of almost 2.5 kilometres of two-directional track with tram stops and a power substation. A large part of the buried utility lines and the urban space surrounding the infrastructure were also renovated.
Merko project manager Tiit Joosti, who oversaw the construction, thanked the people of Tallinn, the contracting entity and all other partners on behalf of Merko and KMG. “The construction period was challenging for all residents and businesses in the buildings lining the tram tracks and also for other users of the city centre. Fortunately the disruption was temporary and the end result is that Tallinn now has one more contemporary urban space besides the traditional line itself, and a great number of utility systems underlying the pavement have been upgraded.”
The new branch of the tram system starts from Tartu maantee, from where trams are routed on to Gonsiori Street. From there, the route goes down Laikmaa, Hobujaama and Ahtri streets until it reaches the harbour area and from there it feeds into the Kopli tram line in front of the old Linnahall civic centre and the Creative Hub.
