Editing Elron (rail transit) (section)

==History==
The company was founded as ''Elektriraudtee'' in 1998. While initially operating as a subsidiary of [[Eesti Raudtee]], it was separated entirely within two years.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/metros/26976.article |title = Metros |publisher = Railway Gazette International |date = 1 April 2000}}</ref> 

In May 2013, the Estonian government declared that Elron would be the sole domestic passenger operator in Estonia, compelling the Estonian operator [[Edelaraudtee]] to reorientate its operations away from the passenger sector.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://news.postimees.ee/1238210/estonian-rail-operator-edelaraudtee-sends-train-to-kazakhstan-for-trials |title = Estonian rail operator Edelaraudtee sends train to Kazakhstan for trials |publisher = news.postimees.ee |date = 16 May 2013}}</ref> This change was not unchallenged; a legal dispute between Edelaraudtee and the Estonian government broke out over compensation for lost revenue from the operator's forced withdrawal from passenger services.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://news.err.ee/108056/edelaraudtee-demands-5-million-from-state |title = Edelaraudtee Demands €5 Million From State |publisher = news.err.ee |date = 23 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.baltic-course.com/eng/transport/?doc=126636 |title = Estonia's Edelaraudtee turns down EUR 2.1 mln compensation |publisher = baltic-course.com |date = 4 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://news.err.ee/655403/pending-supreme-court-ruling-state-might-have-to-pay-2-8m-to-edelaraudtee |title = Pending Supreme Court ruling, state might have to pay €2.8m to Edelaraudtee |publisher = news.err.ee |date = 21 January 2018}}</ref>

Throughout the late 2010s and early 2020s, Elron collaborated closely with Edelaraudtee to examine and implement various opportunities to increase the operating speeds of certain lines, thus enabling Elron's services to run faster in some places.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://baltics.news/2020/08/26/speed-%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8Btests-confirm-that-tallinn-viljandi-train-could-run-faster/ |title = Speed tests confirm that Tallinn-Viljandi train could run faster |publisher = baltics.news |date = 26 August 2020}}</ref> In May 2020, Eesti Raudtee announced a tender to design and provide to electrify the entire Estonian rail network.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://news.err.ee/1086856/eesti-raudtee-announces-tender-for-rail-network-electrification |title = Eesti Raudtee announces tender for rail network electrification |publisher = news.err.ee |date = 7 May 2020}}</ref> That same year, Elron openly spoke on its enthusiasm to electrify the cross-border line between Tallinn and [[St Petersburg]] via a prospective future joint project between Russia and Estonia if favourable terms could be agreed.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://news.err.ee/1215841/estonian-railways-wants-to-electrify-track-between-tallinn-st-petersburg |title = Estonian Railways wants to electrify track between Tallinn, St Petersburg |publisher = news.err.ee |date = 22 December 2020}}</ref>

During the 2020s, Elron has multiple plans to expand and improve its network. Options have been studied, including the requisitioning of former goods lines, while a proposed reorganization could reduce the travel times between [[Tallinn]] and [[Tartu]] to beneath two hours.<ref name = "expansion 2023"/><ref>{{cite web |url = https://news.err.ee/1147907/experts-tartu-tallinn-track-should-be-straightened-before-electrification |title = Experts: Tartu-Tallinn track should be straightened before electrification |publisher = news.err.ee |date = 16 October 2020}}</ref> The maximum service speed of Elron's trains is reportedly set to increase to 160 kilometers per hour.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://news.err.ee/1609056209/estonian-state-to-tighten-up-rail-crossing-safety-regulations |title = Estonian state to tighten up rail crossing safety regulations |publisher = news.err.ee |date = 8 August 2023}}</ref> By 2023, work was underway to reconnect the western Estonian town of [[Haapsalu]], which has not been reachable from the capital by rail since the 1990s, by 2027. A new terminal in Kristiine, west of Tallinn's city center, is also being planned, that shall be better interconnected with the rest of the city's public transport.<ref name = "expansion 2023">{{cite web |url = https://news.err.ee/1609033019/elron-weighing-up-rail-network-expansion-in-tallinn-and-beyond |title = Elron weighing up rail network expansion in Tallinn and beyond |publisher = news.err.ee |date = 13 July 2023}}</ref> 

In mid-2021, a new higher fare for passengers travelling with [[bicycle]]s was introduced.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://news.err.ee/1608290973/elron-s-cycle-tickets-a-costly-purchase-for-regular-passengers |title = Elron's cycle tickets a costly purchase for regular passengers |publisher = news.err.ee |date = 28 July 2021}}</ref> During January 2022, after two years without any price rises, Elron increased its regular fares by almost 9.5 percent, attributing this as a response to rising energy prices as well to finance infrastructure changes.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://news.err.ee/1608454169/elron-raises-train-fares-by-9-5-percent-from-january |title = Elron raises train fares by 9.5 percent from January |publisher = news.err.ee |date = 3 January 2022}}</ref> Two months later, the company announced that [[Ukraine|Ukrainian]] refugees would be able to travel on its trains for free.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.mkm.ee/en/news/ukrainian-war-refugees-can-travel-estonian-trains-and-city-and-county-buses-free-charge |title = Ukrainian war refugees can travel Estonian trains and city and county buses free of charge |publisher = Ministry of Economic Affairs |date = 13 March 2022}}</ref> In May 2022, it was announced that passenger numbers, which had sharply dipped in 2020 amid the [[COVID-19]] pandemic, had recovered.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://news.err.ee/1608598525/passenger-rail-traffic-recovering-to-pre-pandemic-levels |title = Passenger rail traffic recovering to pre-pandemic levels |publisher = news.err.ee |date = 16 May 2022}}</ref>

During late 2023, Elron ceased its Russian language announcements following complaints.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://news.err.ee/1608733822/elron-scraps-russian-language-announcements-at-tallinn-station |title = Elron scraps Russian language announcements at Tallinn station |publisher = news.err.ee |date = 29 September 2022}}</ref> In September 2023, Elron's ticketing system was temporarily disrupted by a [[Denial-of-service attack|distributed denial-of-service]] (DDoS) attacks thought to have been the work of pro-[[Russia]] hackers.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://news.err.ee/1609108433/ria-on-elron-cyberattack-it-is-likely-that-it-will-happen-again |title = RIA on Elron cyberattack: It is likely that it will happen again |publisher = news.err.ee |date = 21 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.geopolitical.report/elron-hit-by-a-cyberattack/ |title = Elron hit by a cyberattack |publisher = geopolitical.report |date = 20 September 2023}}</ref>