This means trams do not follow a regular schedule, Tallinn Transport (TLT) said, adding other public transport services' schedules may also be disrupted due to the challenging weather conditions.

TLT asks passengers to take this into account when using public transport for the rest of Thursday.

On Thursday afternoon, Andrei Novikov, a Tallinn City Transport board member, told ERR that disruptions could be expected until 6 p.m.

At 5 p.m., trams in the capital were still at a standstill. At 5:30 p.m., there was some movement in Põhja-Tallinn, with one tram able to start moving towards the city.

At 6 p.m., Novikov told ERR that the situation had largely returned to normal.

ERR photographer Siim Lõvi also said an older tram had taken a new tram and was pulling it towards Kopli.

TLT board member: Older model trams actually more reliable in conditions like these

Novikov explained that freezing rain covers the contact network with ice, causing issues with electrical connection between the tram and the contact network. "The electricity is cut off. With the newer trams, it's like all the electronics are being restarted," Novikov said.

He added that older trams are actually more reliable in such conditions and that as of Friday evening one older tram was being pressed into use to clear the tracks.

While Thursday morning brought snow to the capital, rising temperatures saw this change to freezing rain, which can render sidewalks and other surfaces extremely slippery and dangerous, and much faster than city maintenance or property owners can apply grit. Winds have been strong also.

This means care should be taken when out and about on foot and in the car too, the city government said.

On Wednesday, five people required hospitalization after a Tallinn tram rear-ended another tram which had braked hard, at the Lubja stop.

Editor's note: This piece was updated to include a quote from Andrei Novikov and gallery of the freezing rain conditions.

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