Estonia, Good for Business, Latvia, Tourism, Transport

Madis Lepp, manager of Hansa Bussiliinid for the Viljandi region, said that where originally the company hoped to start the service in May, the launch has been adjourned because of a delay with approvals. He said that after the company had handed in its application for a regular passenger service authorization there was a long silence, but now things seem to be moving forward and the company recently provided to the Road Administration a more detailed schedule of the operation, which the latter had requested.

The company is expecting a positive answer within a week and hopes to be able to start the service in the first half of July, Lepp said.

According to the timetable that is yet to be endorsed, the bus would depart from the Viljandi bus station at 10 a.m. on Saturdays and arrive in Valmiera at 11:35. It will start the return journey at 3:15 p.m. and arrive in Viljandi at 4:50 p.m. The stops in Estonia will be at Huntaugu, Sultsi, Karksi, Karksi-Nuia and Lilli.

Sakala first reported on March 15 that Hansa Bussiliinid is planning to launch a bus route that would enable residents of Viljandi county to go on a brief shopping holiday to Latvia on Saturdays.