Russian Railways says it lost some 390,000 rubles during one month of operation.
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Russia to Cut Rail Link to Estonia
The Russian national railway said on Tuesday it would cancel the passenger train service between St. Petersburg and the Estonian capital of Tallinn, the RIA Novosti news agency reported. Russian Railways made the decision amid a feud between the two countries over the removal of a Soviet war memorial.
Russian Railways said on Tuesday the train service had not attracted enough passengers to justify its continuation. During one month of operation, the company lost some 390,000 rubles, Prime TASS said. Five-carriage trains between the two cities are usually 17-percent-full, according to Russian Railways.
Russian Railways’ partner in Estonia, Go Rail, denied that the route is not attractive in terms of business. The company said it sees “no commercial reason for shutting down a promising train service which is still in a development phase,” the Rosbalt news agency quoted Go Rail as saying.
The Estonian company said it hopes the service would be restored soon. They believe that the suspension would primarily hit tourists from St. Petersburg as well as ethnic Russians in Estonia who travel to see their families in Russia.
Passenger trains linked the Estonian capital of Tallinn with Russia’s second-largest city of St. Petersburg on March 31 this year after a four-year suspension.
The service between Moscow and Tallinn will remain in operation, Russian Railways said.
www.kommersant.com
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