Ecolines gets permit to run buses from Tallinn to Moscow

Latvian bus company Ecolines has received a new permit to carry passengers from Tallinn to Moscow, ERR reports.

Ecolines buses leave Tallinn bus station for Moscow daily. The company also runs services from Tallinn to St Petersburg.

The European Union has banned much transport linked to Russia, although the restrictions mainly affect aviation and freight. A sanctions package that took effect last year banned companies from organising tourist trips to Russia, including organised bus excursions and guided tours. Regular scheduled services and private travel remained allowed.

Ecolines did not respond to ERR’s request for comment. Andres Ruubas, head of the public transport department at the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture, said companies apply to the ministry, which forwards applications through the Foreign Ministry to Russia. Once the decision is received, the Estonian ministry issues the route permit.

Bus companies can carry passengers to the Estonian-Russian border or onward to Russia. Ruubas said that full checks at the border mean buses may wait there for about four hours. He said most operators appear to take passengers to the Luhamaa border crossing, where they continue on foot, while a Russian partner waits on the other side with buses.

Ruubas said the ministry cannot refuse a route permit because the Estonian-Russian border is not closed. He noted that Finland has fully closed its border with Russia.

According to the Police and Border Guard Board, slightly more than 25,000 people have crossed the Estonian-Russian border by scheduled bus so far this year. More than 66,000 crossed by bus during the whole of last year.