To provide training to locomotive drivers, you must apply for an activity licence from the Ministry of Education and Research. The activity licence is indefinite.
Legal bases
The issue of an activity licence for a training provider of locomotive drivers is governed by the:
Requirements for an applicant
Operators can train locomotive drivers if they comply with the requirements specified in Articles 3 and 4 of the Commission Decision (EU) No 2011/765/EU on criteria for the recognition of training centres involved in the training of train drivers, on criteria for the recognition of examiners of train drivers and on criteria for the organisation of examinations in accordance with Directive 2007/59/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 314, 29 November 2011, p 36–40).
The content of the requirements can be found in the subsection ‘Filling out and submitting an application’.
Cross-border operation
If the company is established in another member state of the European Economic Area but wishes to provide the service also in Estonia, the entrepreneur must apply for an activity licence under the conditions specified in this guide.
Filling out and submitting an application
You can submit an application:
- electronically to the Ministry of Education and Research via edu.ee (authentication is required)
- digitally signed by e-mail to the Ministry of Education and Research at [email protected]
The application must include the following data:
- an application for the activity licence indicating the name, registry code, and contact details (phone number, e-mail address, and postal address) of the undertaking, as well as name of the area of activity pursuant to law and the name and code in accordance with the classification established on the basis of subsection 4 (6) of the Commercial Code;
- confirmation that the locomotive driver training meets the requirements of independence and impartiality established in Article 3 of Commission Decision (EU) No 2011/765/EU. Article 3 provides that training centres shall deliver training courses in an impartial manner regarding all participants. In particular where a training centre provides training to persons employed by the company owning the training centre as well as to other persons, the training shall be performed independently from the interests of the company owning the training centre and shall be impartial for all participants. Training centres shall apply the same rules to persons employed by the company owning the training centre and to other persons.
- data and documents demonstrating compliance with the requirements laid down in Article 4(2) of Commission Decision 2011/765/EU. In accordance with Article 4, the applicant must meet the following requirements:
- have an effective management structure which ensures that trainers have adequate qualifications and experience to provide training pursuant to the requirements set out in Directive 2007/59/EC;
- have the necessary staff, facilities, equipment, and accommodation for the training offered and the estimated number of trainees;
- ensure that practical training is performed by trainers who are holders of both a valid train driver licence and a valid certificate covering the subject of training or a similar type of line/rolling stock, and who have professional practice in driving of minimum 3 years’ duration. When the trainer does not hold a valid certificate for the relevant infrastructure/rolling stock, a driver holding the certificate for that infrastructure/rolling stock shall be present to the training, in accordance with Article 4(2)(e) of Directive 2007/59/EC;
- provide the methodology they intend to use to ensure the content, organisation, and duration of training courses, training plans, and competence schemes;
- provide systems to record the training activities including information on participants, trainers, and the number and purpose of the courses;
- have a quality management system or equivalent procedures in place to monitor compliance with, and the adequacy of, the systems and procedures which ensure that the training provided satisfies the requirements set out in Directive 2007/59/EC;
- provide competence management, ongoing training, and measures to keep professional skills updated for trainers;
- demonstrate procedures to keep training methods, tools, and equipment updated, including training literature, training software, documents provided by the infrastructure manager, such as rulebooks on operational rules, signals, or safety systems.
Paying the state fee
A state fee of 100 euros shall be paid for the examination of an application for an activity licence for a training provider of a locomotive driver. The state fee is transferred to the account of the Ministry of Finance under the reference number 2900073546.
- SEB Pank – EE891010220034796011
- Swedbank – EE932200221023778606
Processing an application
The Ministry of Education and Research will review the application for the licence within three months. The time limit for processing the application will start to run from the moment of submission of all the required information and documents. The Ministry of Education and Research will provide initial feedback on the submitted application within three working days. From the Ministry, the application is sent to the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority for substantive assessment and an issuance of a preliminary administrative act (i.e. an expert opinion). A representative of the Board will contact the applicant if necessary. The time limit for processing the application is suspended if the applicant is given a deadline for eliminating any deficiencies in the documents. During the processing period, it is possible to suspend the running of the time limit for the processing of the application for up to 30 days. The time limit for the processing of the licence will resume running after the deficiencies have been eliminated or the deadline for eliminating the deficiencies has passed. The Chancellor of the Ministry of Education and Research will decide on the granting of the licence based on the preliminary administrative act of the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority. The Chancellor’s directive on the granting of the licence will be communicated to the applicant via e-mail. The information on the licence will be entered into the Estonian Education Information System by the Ministry of Education and Research.
Suspension of an activity licence and termination of economic activities
If you wish to terminate your activity in the chosen field, please submit an application to the Ministry of Education and Research at [email protected].
If you want to temporarily renounce economic activity, declare the date of the renouncement and its resumption on the notice of temporary renouncement of economic activities and submit it to the Ministry of Education and Research by e-mail [email protected].
Revocation of an activity licence
The Ministry of Education and Research may, in addition to the grounds provided by the General Part of the Code of Economic Activities Act, revoke an activity licence if the holder of the refresher training institution has not fulfilled the obligation to disclose information and make data available established in section 8 of the Adult Education Act.
Supervision
The Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority carries out state supervision over the compliance with the requirements of the Railway Act and the legislation established on the basis thereof.
State supervision of compliance with the requirements laid down in the Adult Education Act is exercised by the Ministry of Education and Research.
Contact information
Additional information
Evelyn Saul
Ministry of Education and Research, phone: +372 735 0117, e-mail: [email protected]
Registry information and technical questions
Estonian Education Information System, phone: +372 765 5050, e-mail: [email protected]