Rail Baltica to construct largest Baltic rolling stock depot in Estonia by 2028

Rail Baltica depot visualisation. Credit: Rail Baltica depot visualisation

Rail Baltic Estonia has announced plans to construct the largest rolling stock depot in the Baltic region, located in Rae municipality, Harju County, by the end of 2028. The facility will consolidate all maintenance, repair, and operational activities for Rail Baltica’s future high-speed trains in Estonia, becoming a critical infrastructure hub for the system.

The Soodevahe depot is designed to simultaneously service up to six high-speed trains or twelve regional trains. It will centralise rolling stock maintenance, washing, wheelset profiling, and office operations, creating an integrated environment for the full life cycle of trains. The project is expected to generate 150–200 permanent, highly qualified jobs, positioning the depot as a key centre of expertise for rolling stock in the Baltic region.

The main building comprises two volumes: a central maintenance hall and a three-storey administrative block. Inside, six maintenance and service tracks, totalling 1,380 metres in length, will accommodate high-speed and regional train formations as needed. The depot will also include a separate train wash and wheel lathe track, with an outdoor area featuring six additional service tracks for cleaning, equipping, and parking. These facilities will ensure operational capacity matches the building’s internal capabilities.

Elron, Estonia’s national passenger train operator, will be the first to use the depot under a lease agreement, benefiting from the centralised maintenance services. The depot design procurement was awarded in 2020 to a joint bid from OÜ Reaalprojekt and NORD PROJEKT AS, with construction expected to begin by the end of 2026.

Lauri Ulm, Technical Director and Member of the Management Board of Rail Baltic Estonia, highlighted the depot’s significance: “This facility will unify all rolling stock maintenance and readiness functions, strengthening operational reliability for decades. It is not just a maintenance building but a key infrastructure hub supporting the entire train lifecycle.”

With a contract value of €41,331,818 excluding VAT, the depot will provide advanced infrastructure to support Rail Baltica’s high-speed operations, while fostering employment, technical competence, and reliability. Upon completion in December 2028, the Soodevahe depot will be the largest of its kind in the Baltic states, forming a cornerstone of the regional high-speed rail network.