Track gauge in Estonia

Estonia mainly uses a track gauge of 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) or 1,524 mm (5 ft), inherited from the Russian Empire and/or Soviet occupation times.^[1]^[2] Historically, the standard (1435 mm) gauge was in use throughout Estonia during the German occupation during World War II from 1941 to 1944, after which the tracks were reverted back to the 1520 mm standard in use today. Attempts are underway to build a standard gauge railway as well.

Russian and 5 ft gauges

Soviet Union

Estonia converted relatively late from the Soviet Union's redefinition of the gauge from 1,524 mm (5 ft) to 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in).

Post-independence

Since post-independence all renovated tracks owned by Eesti Raudtee have gauge 1,524 mm. Other tracks have gauge 1,520 mm.

Standard gauge proposals

The Rail Baltica rail network, currently under construction since the early 2020s, would link Tallinn and Warsaw by using a high-speed standard gauge track.^[3]

Narrow gauge

Historically Estonia had 750 mm (2 ft 5+1⁄2 in) narrow-gauge installations. The tram network in Tallinn has a track gauge of 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in).

References

^ "Switching to European track gauge would cost €8.7 billion". ERR. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
^ Burroughs, David (8 September 2022). "Estonian Railways CEO estimates switch to standard gauge would cost €8.7bn". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
^ Jacobs, Frank (3 December 2024). "In the Baltics, 85 millimeters separate East from West". Big Think. Retrieved 7 April 2025.

[1] "Switching to European track gauge would cost €8.7 billion". ERR. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2025.

[2] Burroughs, David (8 September 2022). "Estonian Railways CEO estimates switch to standard gauge would cost €8.7bn". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 7 April 2025.

[3] Jacobs, Frank (3 December 2024). "In the Baltics, 85 millimeters separate East from West". Big Think. Retrieved 7 April 2025.

[1]

[2]

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Track gauge (list)
Minimum gauge	15 in (381 mm) 400 mm (15+3⁄4 in) 16 in (406 mm) 18 in (457 mm) 19 in (483 mm) 500 mm (19+3⁄4 in) 20 in (508 mm) 21 in (533 mm) 1 ft 10 in (559 mm)
Narrow gauge	2 foot and 600 mm 2 ft 3 in (686 mm) 750 mm (2 ft 5+1⁄2 in) 760 mm (2 ft 5+15⁄16 in) 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) 800 mm (2 ft 7+1⁄2 in) 891 mm (2 ft 11+3⁄32 in) Swedish three foot 900 mm (2 ft 11+7⁄16 in) 3 ft (914 mm) 950 mm (3 ft 1+3⁄8 in) Italian metre gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge 1,050 mm (3 ft 5+11⁄32 in), 1,055 mm (3 ft 5+1⁄2 in), 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) 1,093 mm (3 ft 7 in), 1,100 mm (3 ft 7+5⁄16 in), 1,200 mm (3 ft 11+1⁄4 in) 4 ft (1,219 mm) 4 ft 1 in (1,245 mm), Middleton Railway 4 ft 6 in (1,372 mm), Scotch gauge 4 ft 6+1⁄2 in (1,384 mm), Scotch gauge 4 ft 7+3⁄4 in (1,416 mm) 4 ft 8 in (1,422 mm), almost standard gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄4 in (1,429 mm) 1,432 mm (4 ft 8+3⁄8 in)
Standard gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in / 1,435 mm, Stephenson gauge
Broad gauge	1,440 mm (4 ft 8+11⁄16 in) 1,445 mm (4 ft 8+7⁄8 in) 1,450 mm (4 ft 9+3⁄32 in) 4 ft 9+3⁄8 in (1,457 mm) 1,458 mm (4 ft 9+13⁄32 in) 4 ft 10+7⁄8 in (1,495 mm), Toronto gauge 5 ft / 1,524 mm and 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in), Russian gauge. 5 ft 2+1⁄4 in / 1,581 mm and 5 ft 2+1⁄2 in / 1,588 mm, Pennsylvania gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm), Irish gauge 5 ft 4+1⁄2 in (1,638 mm), Baltimore gauge 1,668 mm (5 ft 5+21⁄32 in), Iberian gauge 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm), Indian gauge 1,945 mm (6 ft 4+9⁄16 in), De Arend 7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm), Brunel gauge 3,000 mm (9 ft 10+1⁄8 in), Breitspurbahn 8,200 mm (26 ft 10+27⁄32 in), Lärchwandschrägaufzug 9,000 mm (29 ft 6+5⁄16 in), Krasnoyarsk ship lift
List of track gauge articles	List of track gauges List of tram track gauges Miniature railways Minimum-gauge railways Large amusement railways
Gauge differences	Bogie exchange Break of gauge Dual gauge Gauge conversion list Variable gauge
Transport mode	Tram and light rail Rapid transit Miniature Scale model
Categories	by country by imperial units by metric units by name lists of track gauges