{"id":3028,"date":"2020-07-20T20:33:41","date_gmt":"2020-07-20T17:33:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tlt.ee\/about-the-company\/rolling-stock-history\/buses\/tak-85th-anniversary\/"},"modified":"2020-09-21T11:18:20","modified_gmt":"2020-09-21T08:18:20","slug":"85th-anniversary-of-the-tallinn-bus-company","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/tlt.ee\/en\/vehicle-fleet-and-history\/buses\/85th-anniversary-of-the-tallinn-bus-company\/","title":{"rendered":"85th anniversary of the Tallinn Bus Company"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On 29 May 2007, the Tallinn Bus Company (Tallinna Autobussikoondis \u2013 TAK) celebrated its 85th anniversary and the Tallinn celebrated the 85th anniversary of regular bus services in the city.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

In honour of the anniversary, a procession of legacy vehicles travelled the route Hobujaama tn \u2013 Viru ring \u2013 P\u00e4rnu mnt \u2013 Vabaduse v\u00e4ljak \u2013 Harju tn \u2013 Town Hall Square, and a formal event was held for the townspeople in Town Hall Square, which included anniversary speeches, a festive reception of the procession, demonstration of the legacy vehicles, the photo exhibition \u2018Bus Transport in Tallinn Through the Ages\u2019, the presentation of the chronology \u2018Motorbus Transport in Tallinn\u2019, and the stamping of the special anniversary postcard by the National Postal Service (Eesti Post). The mood was set by the Orchestra of J\u00e4rva County Firemen.<\/p>\n\n

Regular bus transport can be said to have started in Tallinn on 22 May 1922, when the city government granted permission to the architect and entrepreneur Fromhold Kangro to operate five bus routes in Tallinn and its vicinity: Vene turg (current Viru Square) \u2013 Tartu maantee, Vabaduse plats \u2013 Seevald, Vene turg \u2013 Kalamaja, Vene turg \u2013 Pirita, and Vene turg \u2013 Kose. F. Kangro\u2019s buses, garage, and small workshop together with the crew of bus drivers, conductors, route managers, and repairmen laid the foundation for regular bus services in Tallinn and were the historical forerunner of today\u2019s Tallinn Bus Company (Tallinna Autobussikoondis).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

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Mayor E. Savisaar\u2019s anniversary address to the staff of the Tallinn Bus Company<\/h3>\n\n

Dear members of the management board and employees of the Tallinn Bus Company, dear guests,<\/p>\n\n

I wish to congratulate you from the bottom of my heart on today\u2019s 85th anniversary of the Tallinn Bus Company and of bus transport in the city of Tallinn.This day of celebration belongs, above all, to those among you who do this job every day with dedication and a sense of responsibility to the people of our city.<\/p>\n\n

The Tallinn Bus Company has been a wonderful partner to the City of Tallinn. I believe that one of the key factors contributing to the success of this partnership has always been the people behind it.The City of Tallinn wishes to cherish the profession of bus drivers, restore it to the status of honor it deserves, and aid in the raising of a new and motivated generation of bus drivers. This should primarily be done through recognition, although proper remuneration is certainly no less important.<\/p>\n\n

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Public transport is the lifeblood of the city, without which urban life could not function. Bus service providers carry a heavy burden of responsibility for ensuring the well-being of citizens. It is no longer possible to imagine life in Tallinn without bus services. Our city is criss-crossed by 56 bus routes covering 628 km in total. And during peak hours, 308 buses drive on Tallinn\u2019s streets.<\/p>\n\n

On this festive day, we are happy to note that already by around Midsummer\u2019s Day we should be receiving 40 new, comfortable city buses that will also improve the working conditions of our bus drivers.In our heavy urban traffic, the establishment of public transport lanes is certain to contribute to the smooth functioning of public transport. This year, the city will be building 2.8 km worth of roads reserved for public transport vehicles.<\/p>\n\n

There is no lack of ideas on how we could improve public transport \u2013 the crucial part is having experienced partners with whom to get the job done. And the Tallinn Bus Company is experienced indeed.It is remarkable that in the ranks of this 85-year-old enterprise we can find people who have been working there for more than half of the company\u2019s life.<\/p>\n\n

They include Robert Marlen, who has been working as a bus driver for the Tallinn Bus Company for 52 consecutive years now, and Hugo Linholm, the star of the company\u2019s current management, who has been with them for 42 years.Today, a total of 31 employees will be receiving golden service plaques for their 40 or more years of service. Tomorrow, silver service plaques will be presented to 71 people who have been with the company for 30 to 40 years.Few companies can cite such numbers when it comes to their staff.<\/p>\n\n

Today, in addition, I am pleased to present four Town Hall Medals as marks of special recognition to your best employees.<\/p>\n\n

I wish everyone the strength and stamina needed to organise efficient bus services in the city, innovation in brining novel ideas to life, and a joyful day of celebration today!<\/p>\n\n

Thank you!<\/p>\n\n

<\/div>\n\n

The mayor awarded Town Hall Medals to deserving employees of TAK<\/h3>\n\n

On 29 May 2007, a celebration was held in Tallinn Town Hall in honour of the 85th anniversary of the Tallinn Bus Company and of regular bus services in Tallinn, with a formal ceremony attended by Toomas Vitsut, chairman of Tallinn City Council, and Edgar Savisaar, mayor of Tallinn.<\/p>\n\n

\u2018The City of Tallinn wishes to cherish the profession of bus drivers, restore it to the status of honor it deserves, and aid in the raising of a new and motivated generation of bus drivers,\u2019 remarked Mayor Edgar Savisaar. \u2018This should primarily be done through recognition, although proper remuneration is certainly no less important,\u2019 he added.<\/p>\n\n

Town Hall Medals were awarded to Hugo Linholm, chairman of the management board of the Tallinn Bus Company, J\u00fcri N\u00f5mmsalu, member of the company\u2019s management board, Chief Traffic Manager Amalia Seeman, and bus driver Tamara Kisseljova. In addition, the mayor presented a gift to Mati M\u00e4gi, a recipient of the Honorary Decoration of the City of Tallinn, who has been active in the management of the Tallinn Bus Company for 27 years.<\/p>\n\n

Tamara Kisseljova, recognised for the exemplary service she has provided to passengers, was one of the first female bus drivers in Tallinn \u2013 she has been working at TAK since 2001. The Tallinn Bus Company currently employs the highest number of female bus drivers out of all Estonian bus companies.<\/p>\n\n

Hugo Linholm has worked for the Tallinn Bus Company since 1965 as an engineer, head of department, chief engineer, technical director, member of the management board, and since 2007 as chairman of the management board. His extensive work experience has been recognised in the deployment of new technology in road transport and in the development of public transport in Tallinn.<\/p>\n\n

J\u00fcri N\u00f5mmsalu has worked for the Tallinn Bus Company since 1973, including several years as the company\u2019s chief accountant and financial director, and the last 10 years as a member of the management board, where he has striven to ensure the stability of the company\u2019s economic and financial activities.<\/p>\n\n

Amalia Seeman has worked for the Tallinn Bus Company since 1977, including 12 years as chief traffic manager, and her extensive work in ensuring the functioning of regular bus services in Tallinn deserves recognition.<\/p>\n\n

The application for the award of the Town Hall Medal was submitted to the city government by Toomas Vitsut, chairman of the city council, motivated by the fact that this year marks the passing of 85 years since the start of regular city bus services in Tallinn.<\/p>\n\n

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A total of 31 longstanding employees of TAK were awarded with a golden service plaque in Town Hall.<\/h3>\n\n

On 29 May 2007, a special ceremony in celebration of the 85th anniversary of the Tallinn Bus Company (TAK) was held in Tallinn Town Hall, where Hugo Linholm, chairman of the management board of the company, awarded 31 employees a service plaque in recognition of their more than 40 years of service.<\/p>\n\n

In April 2007, in honour of the 85th anniversary of the Tallinn Bus Company, the company created the TAK Service Plaque. The gold and silver plaques are awarded in recognition of their many years of exemplary work at the Tallinn Bus Company.<\/p>\n\n

The event was also attended by Toomas Vitsut, chairman of Tallinn City Council, Edgar Savisaar, mayor of Tallinn, Jaanus Mutli, deputy mayor and chairman of the supervisory board of TAK, members of the supervisory board of TAK, colleagues from other bus companies, and various partners.<\/p>\n\n