AS Eesti Liinirongid, operating as Elron, is a government-owned passenger train operator in Estonia.
Prior to 2014, the company operated exclusively the electrified commuter rail system in Harjumaa, and was known until October 2013 as Elektriraudtee, i.e. "the Electrical Railway". On 1 January 2014, Elron took over all domestic passenger train services in Estonia from Edelaraudtee.
History
The company was founded as Elektriraudtee in 1998. While initially operating as a subsidiary of Eesti Raudtee, it was separated entirely within two years.[1]
In May 2013, the Estonian government declared that Elron would be the sole domestic passenger operator in Estonia, compelling the Estonian operator Edelaraudtee to reorientate its operations away from the passenger sector.[2] This change was not unchallenged; a legal dispute between Edelaraudtee and the Estonian government broke out over compensation for lost revenue from the operator's forced withdrawal from passenger services.[3]