On the basis of a prefeasibility study carried out by SYSTRA in 2004 to upgrade and refurbish the Tallinn urban transport network, the City of Tallinn has launched a preliminary study for the first phase of a new tramway line, from Ussimaë – Lasnamaë to city centre, with an extension to the capital’s airport.

At the end of June 2006, following a restricted tender in which bids were received from consortia headed by Ramboll, Ernst & Young, and SYSTRA respectively, the contract was awarded to the group headed by SYSTRA in partnership with two Estonian firms, ETP Grupp and Hendrikson & Co.

The project is due to run from 1 September 2006 to 15 October 2007 and will comprise three stages :

• The first stage , from an analysis of the situation and forecasts for social and economic growth, will be to present to the Tallinn Department of Transport the advantages and limitations of the various technologies currently being considered (width of gauge, tram train, energy requirements etc).
• The second stage will be to draw up :

- traffic forecasts and operational simulations, which will be studied in depth to decide on scheduling,

- feasibility studies taking into account the technical constraints of the existing infrastructure and any modifications to it. Work required on the infrastructure will be assessed and costed for inclusion in the terms of reference.

• The third stage will involve a financial and socio-economic study including a cost-benefit analysis of the line in terms of its operation, maintenance of the system, and the likely impact on the environment. The terms of reference will then be drawn up and an application for grants from the European Union will be prepared.

Completion of the project will offer major prospects : the possibility of providing assistance to the City of Tallinn with the first phase of construction of the tramway and, looking further ahead, with the continued upgrading of the entire Tallinn tramway network.