A reverse countdown for the debut of the first – and long-awaited – metro line in the northern city of Thessaloniki is expected to commence over the next few months.
Specifically, the period up until roughly April will witness the signing of a contract for the acquisition of 15 rail cars, tender bids for a public-private sector partnership contract for the underground rail system’s operation, and the first scheduled test run from the main Venizelos metro station.
The return and placement of antiquities discovered at the specific station, during extensive underground construction works, is also scheduled for April.
The entire metro line runs along a length of 9.6 kilometers, from a depot at the Pylea site to Thessaloniki’s new train station, with test runs currently conducted on only a portion of the single two-way line.
The original plan to build a metro line in Greece’s second largest municipality dates back decades, while the ongoing project was initially scheduled to finish in 2012, with successive years of economic downturn and political instability causing repeated delays.
Nevertheless, Thessaloniki’s underground is billed as far more innovative than the well-known and important greater Athens network, with automated rail cars to be used.
A timetable announced by Attiko Metro, the state-run company responsible for the development and construction of both the Athens and Thessaloniki networks, gives a completion deadline for all stations – sans Venizelos – by September 2023. A completion deadline for the Venizelos station is November 2023, followed by an eastern extension to the Kalamaria municipality in 2024.
στο Google News και μάθετε πρώτοι όλες τις ειδήσειςLatest News
FT: Greece’s Economic Rebound a Balance of Growth and Poverty
Eurostat data revealed a significant 10.8% drop in Greek public debt relative to GDP in 2023, alongside a 2% economic expansion, outpacing Germany's performance.
Lavrio Port Authority Next Up for Privatization
A deadline for the submission of expressions of interest is May 14, 2024
Eurostat: Greece Records Largest Drop in Natural Gas Prices in 2nd Half of 2023
The price of electricity and natural gas in Europe was down following a substantial surge that began before the Russian invasion of Ukraine and peaked in 2022
GEK TERNA Still Considers Leveraging Concessions Portfolio as Financial Tool
President and CEO of Gek Terna George Peristeris explained the company's plans on Tuesday on the sidelines of the inauguration of sections of Greece's E65 highway
NielsenIQ: 3% Supermarket Revenue Increase in Q1
Private label products are gaining traction, comprising 25.4% of shopping basket shares, up from 24.7%
Store Hours Change Today in Observation of Orthodox Easter
The President of the Athens Chamber of Commerce hopes the Easter period will provide a much-needed boost to retail traffic in the capital
Athens-area Mass Transit Systems Set to Finally Install Contact-less Fare Payment
Paying fares via bank cards, smartphones and smartwatches in all mass transit systems in the Greek capital, namely, buses, trolleys, the metro and tram lines, is scheduled by the end of the year
Council of State Rejects Motion Against Thessaloniki Motorway Project
The motion was filed earlier this month by three local citizens’ and environmental groups and generated a high court decision for a temporary stay in construction
Greek 30Y Bond Issue Oversubscribed by 11 Times
Very high demand pushed down the coupon's interest rate to 4.125%
Athens Int’l Airport Wins Top Prize at Routes Europe Awards
The Routes business is focused entirely on aviation route development and the company's portfolio includes events, media and online businesses
