The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) did not allocate any funding for the proposed tramline but the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications hopes that CEF will allocate funding in a later period.

Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure Taavi Aas (Center) noted that since the funding was not allocated this round, it leaves more time to design the project. "We hope to be succesful in our next applications."

The ministry told ERR that a total of €26 million of support was applied for to construct a tramline to the Old Harbor. Laura Laaster, spokesperson for the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, said this will not halt the project.

The plan remains to start designing the tramline in the later parts of this year. The design of the project is planned to be finished in 2021, with construction starting in the first half of 2022.

Laaster said: "This means that we can apply for funding in the next rounds of CEF support. According to the information currently available, at least one round is planned for later this year."

She concluded saying that funding was not allocated because of the abundance of applications - CEF received three times as many applications as they expected.

The tram route between the Old City Harbor and Ülemiste passenger terminal, which will be completed by 2023, must be planned as a priority over other traffic developments, the rules of the procurement state.

You can watch a video HERE which shows the route the new tramline will take.

Together with the latest grant of an additional €216 million in Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) financing and national co-financing, Rail Baltic has already secured around €1.2 billion from the European Union and national funds, spokespeople for the project said on Friday.

--

Download the ERR News app for Android and iOS now and never miss an update!