Due to the absence of a train service, a supplementary bus will be introduced in the mornings between the Estonian cities of Valga and Tartu. This measure aims to address the decreased transportation options following the opening of a direct train route to Riga, which has affected the regularity of train schedules. Next year, the train timetable between Valga and Tartu is expected to become more frequent; however, infrastructure repairs this summer will lead to temporary changes in the usual schedules.

On Friday morning, a train arriving from Riga at Valga railway station departed towards Tallinn with a five-minute delay, carrying just a few dozen passengers. The new connection to Riga represents an extension of the Tallinn-Valga line, which has caused one of the morning trains from Valga to Tartu to be pushed back by two hours. Local government leaders have confirmed that this sudden adjustment does not accommodate many commuters. However, statistics from Elron, the Estonian railway company, indicate that even under the previous timetable, passenger numbers were low, with fewer than 30 boarding at Valga station in November, and an average of 37 arriving in Tartu.

Local officials and residents express concern that with a diminishing population in the area, the reduced services do not meet the needs of those who rely on public transportation. This situation highlights the broader challenges of providing adequate public transport in regions with shrinking populations and calls for a reevaluation of transport options to better suit the remaining residents' needs.