What are trains in the Baltic States like?

The Baltic states have a railway network reaching all the way from Poland to the northern coast of Estonia. Direct trains run from Poland to Kaunas and Vilnius in Lithuania, and as of 2025 it's now easy to take the train from Vilnius in Lithuania to Tallinn in Estonia, with only one change in Valga

On this page you'll read about trains in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, how to book them, what they're like, and everything else you need to know.

Polish IC Krakow-Warsaw-Vilnius

A direct connection exists from Krakow via Warsaw in Poland to Vilnius in Lithuania. Because of the broader gauge in post-soviet countries, a cross-border transfer exists on the Polish/Lithuanian border between the Polish train and Lithuanian train. The Polish train is described here, the Lithuanian train is the same type of the train with the same amenities as the Vilnius/Riga train as described below.

The transfer at Mockava, on the Polish/Lithuanian border: the Polish train on the right, and the Lithuanian train on the left.

Eurail passes as bought via Happyrail are valid on the whole journey, and a reservation is mandatory for international journeys, which can be bought via the website of Lithuanian Railwways LTG Link. Seperate tickets can also be bought via either LTG Link or PKPIC for the whole journey. The train will often be shown as having 'Mockava' as it's final destination, which is the station where the transfer to the Lithuanian transet exists.

  • Second class features comfortable seats in a 2+2 configuration in open-class coaches with power sockets and access to the excellent Polish Railways dining car.
  • First class features more comfortable padded eats in 6-person compartments, also featuring power sockets and access to the dining car, with a more quiet atmosphere.
  • The dining car serves freshly made meals and drinks either at your seat in the dining car or for takeaway.

Lithuanian national trains

The Lithuanian railway network is the most modern of the Baltic states, and has frequent modern trains running between major cities like Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipeda. Eurail passes as bought via Happyrail are valid on all Lithuanian trains. Seperate tickets can only be booked via Lithuan Railways LTG Link.

Trains of various types run, but are generally increasingly modern trains with wifi, power sockets and a small catering offer with drinks and snacks in the longest journeys. Trains as described here run ebtween major cities like Vilnius and Kaunas. Other mainline trains and international routes like Vilnius-Riga are described below under "Vilnius-Riga-Valga".

  • Second class features comfortable plush seating in a 2+2 arrangement in modern, heated and air-conditioned trains. Wifi and power sockets are often available. A steward will come by during the journey to take your order from the small catering offer (hot and cold drinks and snacks) which are then brought to your seat (not included in the fare).
  • First class features wider seats with more legroom in a quieter atmopshere. Wifi and power sockets are often available. A steward will come by during the journey to take your order from the small catering offer (hot and cold drinks and snacks) which are then brought to your seat (not included in the fare).

Lithuanian train Vilnius-Riga-Valga

Lithuanian Railways LTG Link operates modern diesel trains on the routes Vilnius-Riga-Valga (in Estonia, for Tallinn), Vilnius-Klaipeda and Vilnius-Mockava (Polish border, towards Warsaw) . Eurail passes as bought via Happyrail are valid on these routes. Reservations are mandatory for the international routes Vilnius-Riga-Valga and Vilnius-Poland and can only be bought via LTG Link's website.

  • Second class features comfortable plush seating in a 2+2 arrangement. Wifi and power sockets are available. A steward will come by during the journey to take your order from the small catering offer (hot and cold drinks and snacks) which are then brought to your seat (not included in the fare).
  • First class features similar seats as in second class, but with more legroom and located in a seperate area of the train with a quieter atmopshere. Wifi and power sockets are available. A steward will come by during the journey to take your order from the small catering offer (hot and cold drinks and snacks) which are then brought to your seat (not included in the fare).

Trains in Latvia

Latvian Railways, or Vivi, uses a fleet of modernised ex-Soviet era diesel trains on long-distance service, including to the Estonian border at Valga, together with more modern electric trains for shorter journeys around Riga.

Eurail passes as bought via Happyrail are valid on all Vivi trains in Latvia. Except for Valga-Riga-Vilnius journeys (for which see above), no reservations are possible. When travelling to Estonia, a change is made at the border at Valga from the direct Vilnius-Riga-Valga train to a Valga-Tallinn express train.

  • On longer journeys and internationally to Valga in Estonia, modernised ex-Soviet trainsets are used. These feature second-class only seats in a 2+2 or 2+3 configuration, free wifi, and heating during winter. No catering is available on board of trains.
  • For short journeys around Riga more modern electric trainsets, with seats in a 2+3 configuration, free wifi and power sockets are used. No catering is available on board of trains. Photo Credit: Skoda Transportation.

Trains in Estonia (including Valga-Tallinn)

Estonian railways 'Elron' use a fleet of modern trains connecting all major cities of the country with each other, plus services to Valga on the border with Latvia where a cross-border transfer can be made for a 'Vivi' Latvian railways train to Riga as well as the direct Valga-Riga-Vilnus train to Lithuania.

Eurail passes as bought via Happyrail are valid on all trains in Estonia. In second class, no reservations are necessarry. For making a journey in first class, a reservation has to be made at Estonian Railways Elron via email. Please email klienditugi@elron.ee with a copy of your 1st class Eurail pass, name, date of travel, and the exact connection you wish to take.

  • Second class features comfortable non-adjustable seats in a 2+3 layout, in modern trains with level boarding, wifi, heating and airconditioning. No catering is available. Power sockets are not available (only in 1st class).
  • First class features more comfortable adjustable seats in a 2+2 configuration, in modern trains with level boarding, faster wifi than in second class, power sockets, large tables, heating and airconditioning. No catering is available. 1st class Eurail pass users must make a reservation via email as described above.

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