Night buses to continue until at least the end of the year
Night buses will continue to operate in Tallinn until at least the end of the year. Starting from November 1, departure days and times will be adjusted based on when the service has the most users.
Deputy Mayor Vladimir Svet stated that the ridership data and a qualitative study conducted in August have shown that there is a demand for nighttime bus service. "Our data reveals a low number of passengers on Thursday nights and during departures occurring after 3:30 am. Based on statistical data, we are adjusting the departure times of night buses to provide the service when it is most used," explained Svet. "While buses used to run from Friday to Sunday, from November 1 until the end of the year, they will operate on Saturday and Sunday nights. Decisions regarding the continuation and scale of night bus services for the next year will be determined during the city's budgeting process," Svet elaborated.In August, Tallinn Strategic Management Office conducted a survey among night bus users to learn about passengers' expectations and preferences regarding the service.
Natalie Mets, the Nighttime Advisor of Tallinn, pointed out that a substantial number of people use night buses, and they also express satisfaction with the service. "Most of those surveyed had used the service on multiple occasions. What's particularly heartening is that night bus passengers rate the service's safety very high. This sentiment is further confirmed by bus drivers, who note that if there's one notable distinction between daytime and nighttime passengers, it's the cheerful demeanor of those traveling during nighttime hours."
On weekends, night buses are used by an average of 2,700 people. Based on the data collected so far, the most popular routes are Lasnamäe (average 33.8% of weekend users) and Mustamäe (32.6%). The Väike-Õismäe route is used by an average of 19%, and the Pelguranna route by 14.6% of passengers.
The starting point for night bus lines is at the county lines stop at Balti Jaam. In October, buses depart from Friday to Sunday from half past one in the night until five in the morning. From November 1 until the end of the year, night buses will run on Saturday and Sunday early mornings from half past one to half past four, with departures every 30 minutes. Bus line 91 serves Mustamäe, line 92 serves Väike-Õismäe, line 93 serves Pelguranna, and line 94 serves Priisle. Buses operate in both directions on the lines, and after reaching their destination, they return to Balti Jaam.
The ride is free for Tallinn residents, while regular ticket prices apply to other passengers. Timetables can be found at bus stops and on the website http://transport.tallinn.ee.
The summary of the night bus passenger survey is available (in Estonian) in Tallinn Research Information System.