diff --git a/.betterer.results b/.betterer.results
index abe8fcf708c..6b3ee027eb3 100644
--- a/.betterer.results
+++ b/.betterer.results
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ exports[`no enzyme tests`] = {
     "public/app/plugins/datasource/loki/configuration/ConfigEditor.test.tsx:1661240493": [
       [1, 17, 13, "RegExp match", "2409514259"]
     ],
-    "public/app/plugins/datasource/loki/configuration/DebugSection.test.tsx:3844880066": [
+    "public/app/plugins/datasource/loki/configuration/DebugSection.test.tsx:2909181412": [
       [1, 17, 13, "RegExp match", "2409514259"]
     ],
     "public/app/plugins/datasource/loki/configuration/DerivedField.test.tsx:1527527456": [
diff --git a/packages/grafana-runtime/src/services/templateSrv.ts b/packages/grafana-runtime/src/services/templateSrv.ts
index 50b40325c5c..b0ac664e15e 100644
--- a/packages/grafana-runtime/src/services/templateSrv.ts
+++ b/packages/grafana-runtime/src/services/templateSrv.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { VariableModel, ScopedVars } from '@grafana/data';
+import { VariableModel, ScopedVars, TimeRange } from '@grafana/data';
 
 /**
  * Via the TemplateSrv consumers get access to all the available template variables
@@ -22,6 +22,11 @@ export interface TemplateSrv {
    * Checks if a target contains template variables.
    */
   containsTemplate(target?: string): boolean;
+
+  /**
+   * Update the current time range to be used when interpolating __from / __to variables.
+   */
+  updateTimeRange(timeRange: TimeRange): void;
 }
 
 let singletonInstance: TemplateSrv;
diff --git a/public/app/features/explore/spec/helper/setup.tsx b/public/app/features/explore/spec/helper/setup.tsx
index 1bddee54436..81e292cceac 100644
--- a/public/app/features/explore/spec/helper/setup.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/explore/spec/helper/setup.tsx
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ function makeDatasourceSetup({ name = 'loki', id = 1 }: { name?: string; id?: nu
 }
 
 export const waitForExplore = async () => {
-  await screen.findByText(/Editor/i);
+  await screen.findAllByText(/Editor/i);
 };
 
 export const tearDown = () => {
diff --git a/public/app/features/explore/spec/interpolation.test.tsx b/public/app/features/explore/spec/interpolation.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..cfe11ccbc0f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/public/app/features/explore/spec/interpolation.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+import React from 'react';
+import { setupExplore, waitForExplore } from './helper/setup';
+import { makeLogsQueryResponse } from './helper/query';
+import { DataQueryRequest, serializeStateToUrlParam } from '@grafana/data';
+import { getTemplateSrv } from '@grafana/runtime';
+import { LokiQuery } from '../../../plugins/datasource/loki/types';
+
+jest.mock('react-virtualized-auto-sizer', () => {
+  return {
+    __esModule: true,
+    default(props: any) {
+      return <div>{props.children({ width: 1000 })}</div>;
+    },
+  };
+});
+
+describe('Explore: interpolation', () => {
+  // support-escalations/issues/1459
+  it('Time is interpolated when explore is opened with a URL', async () => {
+    const urlParams = {
+      left: serializeStateToUrlParam({
+        datasource: 'loki',
+        queries: [{ refId: 'A', expr: '{ job="a", from="${__from}", to="${__to}" }' }],
+        range: { from: '1600000000000', to: '1700000000000' },
+      }),
+      right: serializeStateToUrlParam({
+        datasource: 'loki',
+        queries: [{ refId: 'b', expr: '{ job="b", from="${__from}", to="${__to}" }' }],
+        range: { from: '1800000000000', to: '1900000000000' },
+      }),
+    };
+    const { datasources } = setupExplore({ urlParams });
+    const fakeFetch = jest.fn();
+
+    (datasources.loki.query as jest.Mock).mockImplementation((request: DataQueryRequest<LokiQuery>) => {
+      fakeFetch(getTemplateSrv().replace(request.targets[0]!.expr));
+      return makeLogsQueryResponse();
+    });
+
+    await waitForExplore();
+
+    expect(fakeFetch).toBeCalledTimes(2);
+    expect(fakeFetch).toHaveBeenCalledWith('{ job="a", from="1600000000000", to="1700000000000" }');
+    expect(fakeFetch).toHaveBeenCalledWith('{ job="b", from="1800000000000", to="1900000000000" }');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/public/app/features/explore/state/explorePane.test.ts b/public/app/features/explore/state/explorePane.test.ts
index 81f1ef87e6a..e429616a7d6 100644
--- a/public/app/features/explore/state/explorePane.test.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/explore/state/explorePane.test.ts
@@ -1,47 +1,26 @@
-import { DataQuery, DefaultTimeZone, EventBusExtended, serializeStateToUrlParam, toUtc } from '@grafana/data';
+import { serializeStateToUrlParam } from '@grafana/data';
 import { ExploreId, StoreState, ThunkDispatch } from 'app/types';
 import { refreshExplore } from './explorePane';
 import { setDataSourceSrv } from '@grafana/runtime';
 import { configureStore } from '../../../store/configureStore';
 import { of } from 'rxjs';
+import { createDefaultInitialState } from './helpers';
 
 jest.mock('../../dashboard/services/TimeSrv', () => ({
   getTimeSrv: jest.fn().mockReturnValue({
     init: jest.fn(),
+    timeRange: jest.fn().mockReturnValue({}),
   }),
 }));
 
-const t = toUtc();
-const testRange = {
-  from: t,
-  to: t,
-  raw: {
-    from: t,
-    to: t,
-  },
-};
+const { testRange, defaultInitialState } = createDefaultInitialState();
 
-const defaultInitialState = {
-  user: {
-    orgId: '1',
-    timeZone: DefaultTimeZone,
-  },
-  explore: {
-    [ExploreId.left]: {
-      initialized: true,
-      containerWidth: 1920,
-      eventBridge: {} as EventBusExtended,
-      queries: [] as DataQuery[],
-      range: testRange,
-      history: [],
-      refreshInterval: {
-        label: 'Off',
-        value: 0,
-      },
-      cache: [],
-    },
-  },
-};
+jest.mock('@grafana/runtime', () => ({
+  ...(jest.requireActual('@grafana/runtime') as unknown as object),
+  getTemplateSrv: () => ({
+    updateTimeRange: jest.fn(),
+  }),
+}));
 
 function setupStore(state?: any) {
   return configureStore({
diff --git a/public/app/features/explore/state/helpers.ts b/public/app/features/explore/state/helpers.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c4c0fc84224
--- /dev/null
+++ b/public/app/features/explore/state/helpers.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+import { DefaultTimeZone, toUtc } from '@grafana/data';
+import { ExploreId } from '../../../types';
+
+export const createDefaultInitialState = () => {
+  const t = toUtc();
+  const testRange = {
+    from: t,
+    to: t,
+    raw: {
+      from: t,
+      to: t,
+    },
+  };
+
+  const defaultInitialState = {
+    user: {
+      orgId: '1',
+      timeZone: DefaultTimeZone,
+    },
+    explore: {
+      [ExploreId.left]: {
+        datasourceInstance: {
+          query: jest.fn(),
+          getRef: jest.fn(),
+          getLogsVolumeDataProvider: jest.fn(),
+          meta: {
+            id: 'something',
+          },
+        },
+        initialized: true,
+        containerWidth: 1920,
+        eventBridge: { emit: () => {} } as any,
+        queries: [{ expr: 'test' }] as any[],
+        range: testRange,
+        history: [],
+        refreshInterval: {
+          label: 'Off',
+          value: 0,
+        },
+        cache: [],
+      },
+    },
+  };
+
+  return { testRange, defaultInitialState };
+};
diff --git a/public/app/features/explore/state/query.test.ts b/public/app/features/explore/state/query.test.ts
index 9aa8bcad2ac..c0d235cfd0d 100644
--- a/public/app/features/explore/state/query.test.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/explore/state/query.test.ts
@@ -22,12 +22,10 @@ import {
   DataSourceApi,
   DataSourceJsonData,
   DataSourceWithLogsVolumeSupport,
-  DefaultTimeZone,
   LoadingState,
   MutableDataFrame,
   PanelData,
   RawTimeRange,
-  toUtc,
 } from '@grafana/data';
 import { thunkTester } from 'test/core/thunk/thunkTester';
 import { makeExplorePaneState } from './utils';
@@ -35,45 +33,24 @@ import { reducerTester } from '../../../../test/core/redux/reducerTester';
 import { configureStore } from '../../../store/configureStore';
 import { setTimeSrv } from '../../dashboard/services/TimeSrv';
 import Mock = jest.Mock;
+import { createDefaultInitialState } from './helpers';
 
-const t = toUtc();
-const testRange = {
-  from: t,
-  to: t,
-  raw: {
-    from: t,
-    to: t,
-  },
-};
-const defaultInitialState = {
-  user: {
-    orgId: '1',
-    timeZone: DefaultTimeZone,
-  },
-  explore: {
-    [ExploreId.left]: {
-      datasourceInstance: {
-        query: jest.fn(),
-        getRef: jest.fn(),
-        getLogsVolumeDataProvider: jest.fn(),
-        meta: {
-          id: 'something',
-        },
-      },
-      initialized: true,
-      containerWidth: 1920,
-      eventBridge: { emit: () => {} } as any,
-      queries: [{ expr: 'test' }] as any[],
-      range: testRange,
-      history: [],
-      refreshInterval: {
-        label: 'Off',
-        value: 0,
-      },
-      cache: [],
-    },
-  },
-};
+const { testRange, defaultInitialState } = createDefaultInitialState();
+
+jest.mock('app/features/dashboard/services/TimeSrv', () => ({
+  ...jest.requireActual('app/features/dashboard/services/TimeSrv'),
+  getTimeSrv: () => ({
+    init: jest.fn(),
+    timeRange: jest.fn().mockReturnValue({}),
+  }),
+}));
+
+jest.mock('@grafana/runtime', () => ({
+  ...(jest.requireActual('@grafana/runtime') as unknown as object),
+  getTemplateSrv: () => ({
+    updateTimeRange: jest.fn(),
+  }),
+}));
 
 function setupQueryResponse(state: StoreState) {
   (state.explore[ExploreId.left].datasourceInstance?.query as Mock).mockReturnValueOnce(
diff --git a/public/app/features/explore/state/time.test.ts b/public/app/features/explore/state/time.test.ts
index 99b0b73a3e2..513887c8e47 100644
--- a/public/app/features/explore/state/time.test.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/explore/state/time.test.ts
@@ -3,9 +3,44 @@ import { dateTime, LoadingState } from '@grafana/data';
 import { makeExplorePaneState } from './utils';
 import { ExploreId, ExploreItemState } from 'app/types/explore';
 import { reducerTester } from 'test/core/redux/reducerTester';
-import { changeRangeAction, changeRefreshIntervalAction, timeReducer } from './time';
+import { changeRangeAction, changeRefreshIntervalAction, timeReducer, updateTime } from './time';
+import { createDefaultInitialState } from './helpers';
+import { configureStore } from 'app/store/configureStore';
+import { silenceConsoleOutput } from '../../../../test/core/utils/silenceConsoleOutput';
+
+const MOCK_TIME_RANGE = {};
+
+const mockTimeSrv = {
+  init: jest.fn(),
+  timeRange: jest.fn().mockReturnValue(MOCK_TIME_RANGE),
+};
+jest.mock('app/features/dashboard/services/TimeSrv', () => ({
+  ...jest.requireActual('app/features/dashboard/services/TimeSrv'),
+  getTimeSrv: () => mockTimeSrv,
+}));
+
+const mockTemplateSrv = {
+  updateTimeRange: jest.fn(),
+};
+jest.mock('@grafana/runtime', () => ({
+  ...(jest.requireActual('@grafana/runtime') as unknown as object),
+  getTemplateSrv: () => mockTemplateSrv,
+}));
 
 describe('Explore item reducer', () => {
+  silenceConsoleOutput();
+
+  describe('When time is updated', () => {
+    it('Time service is re-initialized and template service is updated with the new time range', async () => {
+      const { dispatch } = configureStore({
+        ...(createDefaultInitialState() as any),
+      });
+      await dispatch(updateTime({ exploreId: ExploreId.left }));
+      expect(mockTimeSrv.init).toBeCalled();
+      expect(mockTemplateSrv.updateTimeRange).toBeCalledWith(MOCK_TIME_RANGE);
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('changing refresh intervals', () => {
     it("should result in 'streaming' state, when live-tailing is active", () => {
       const initialState = makeExplorePaneState();
diff --git a/public/app/features/explore/state/time.ts b/public/app/features/explore/state/time.ts
index 5ab326f4646..32ccf4c3255 100644
--- a/public/app/features/explore/state/time.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/explore/state/time.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import {
   TimeRange,
 } from '@grafana/data';
 import { RefreshPicker } from '@grafana/ui';
+import { getTemplateSrv } from '@grafana/runtime';
 
 import { getTimeRange, refreshIntervalToSortOrder, stopQueryState } from 'app/core/utils/explore';
 import { ExploreItemState, ThunkResult } from 'app/types';
@@ -105,7 +106,11 @@ export const updateTime = (config: {
       },
     };
 
+    // We need to re-initialize TimeSrv because it might have been triggered by the other Explore pane (when split)
     getTimeSrv().init(timeModel);
+    // After re-initializing TimeSrv we need to update the time range in Template service for interpolation
+    // of __from and __to variables
+    getTemplateSrv().updateTimeRange(getTimeSrv().timeRange());
 
     dispatch(changeRangeAction({ exploreId, range, absoluteRange }));
   };
diff --git a/public/app/features/explore/utils/links.test.ts b/public/app/features/explore/utils/links.test.ts
index 1f58b54bcbd..c1e071b5c40 100644
--- a/public/app/features/explore/utils/links.test.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/explore/utils/links.test.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ describe('getFieldLinksForExplore', () => {
       containsTemplate() {
         return false;
       },
+      updateTimeRange(timeRange: TimeRange) {},
     });
   });
 
diff --git a/public/app/features/templating/template_srv.mock.ts b/public/app/features/templating/template_srv.mock.ts
index 4ce57cdc914..4d4b4961de0 100644
--- a/public/app/features/templating/template_srv.mock.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/templating/template_srv.mock.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { ScopedVars, VariableModel } from '@grafana/data';
+import { ScopedVars, TimeRange, VariableModel } from '@grafana/data';
 import { variableRegex } from '../variables/utils';
 import { TemplateSrv } from '@grafana/runtime';
 
@@ -55,4 +55,6 @@ export class TemplateSrvMock implements TemplateSrv {
     const match = this.regex.exec(target);
     return match !== null;
   }
+
+  updateTimeRange(timeRange: TimeRange) {}
 }
diff --git a/public/app/plugins/datasource/loki/configuration/DebugSection.test.tsx b/public/app/plugins/datasource/loki/configuration/DebugSection.test.tsx
index 5005a4f185a..d1aaac6c77a 100644
--- a/public/app/plugins/datasource/loki/configuration/DebugSection.test.tsx
+++ b/public/app/plugins/datasource/loki/configuration/DebugSection.test.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import React from 'react';
 import { mount } from 'enzyme';
-import { dateTime } from '@grafana/data';
+import { dateTime, TimeRange } from '@grafana/data';
 import { setTemplateSrv } from '@grafana/runtime';
 
 import { DebugSection } from './DebugSection';
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ describe('DebugSection', () => {
       containsTemplate() {
         return false;
       },
+      updateTimeRange(timeRange: TimeRange) {},
     });
   });