The Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis inaugurated the 3.5 km Haidari – Piraeus metro section with three stations part of the metro extension to Piraeus project. The now fully operational Line 3 provides connection between the Port of Piraeus with the centre of Athens and other major transport hubs such as the Airport and the Central Railway Station
The ceremony took place at the Municipal Theatre station where the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Kostas Karamanlis, the representatives of Attiko Metro and other officials attended.
“The country’s first port is getting the position it deserves, a position worthy of its rich history. Maniatika, Piraeus, and Dimotiko Theatro (Municipal Theatre) will provide citizens access to public transport. There is no sustainable development, reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, but also citizen-friendly interventions, without the significant expansion of metro system in the basin which will become unlivable if we cannot implement the important infrastructure projects in Athens such as metro Line 4 and the extension of Line 2. When Line 4 is completed and the rest of the extensions that are already being studied are launched, more than 1 million Athenians and visitors to the city will use the Metro every day” Kyriakos Mitsotakis said.
The Piraeus station is located in front of the metro terminal of Line 1 and is designed as a transport hub providing connection with the metro and tram system, and the suburban railway network, the port and the Athens airport. The first level of the station can also be used as an underground passage, for access to the Piraeus Port under Aktis Kalimassioti Avenue, without ticket validation. In collaboration with Ephorate of Antiquities of Pireus and Islands, at the Municipal Theater station, an archaeological exhibition entitled “Stories about invisible water” has been created to offer passengers and tourists a glimpse of ancient Piraeus.
“The metro has arrived in Piraeus. After decades, we are finally directly connecting the largest port with the centre of Athens and of course with the largest airport in the country. With this project, Piraeus really becomes a modern city because the metro is the most sustainable and clean means of urban transport,” Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Kostas Karamanlis said at the ceremony.
The total number of passengers using the Line 2 and Line will exceed 1 million per day in the future. “In particular, every day 1.1 million people will use the metro transport which ensures comfortable, fast and safe mobility,” Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, Giorgos Karagiannis said.
With the three metro stations, the line will serve over 130,000 passengers daily transforming Piraeus Station into the largest transport hub in Attica region. The new line will result in 23,000 fewer vehicles on the roads which means the reduction of 120 tonnes of CO2 per day.
With the metro extension to Piraeus, the city port is directly connected to the Airport, with the journey taking just 55 minutes. Passengers will be able to reach Syntagma central square of Athens from the Port in just 12-13 minutes. In addition, the direct connection between the Port of Piraeus and the Eleftherios Venizelos Airport the metro Line 3 offers special development benefits both to the wider area of Athens and Piraeus, as well as to the national economy.
The first phase of the metro extension to Piraeus served by three stations (Aghia Varvara, Korydallos and Nikaia) has been opened in July 2020, resulting in approximately 80,000 daily additional boardings in total on the metro network. This relieves road traffic and eliminates 14,000 cars each day reducing the CO2 by 40 tonnes per day.
The Line 3 extension consisted of a 7.55 km metro tunnel with six stations – Agia Varvara, Korydallos, Nikaia, Maniatika, Piraeus, Municipal Theatre – which required a EUR 730 million investment which included the electromechanical systems and train supply.
This opened section is the second phase of Line 3 extension. Avax – Ghella – Alstom consortium has completed the infrastructure works for all the six stations of the Haidari – Piraeus metro extension on Line 3. For this newly section, Alstom has supplied and installed the traction power system, including third rail, medium voltage supply and the distribution of low voltag. As part of the project, a software update has been provided to the 76 existing technical rooms on Lines 2 and 3, already in operation.
Currently, Athens is constructing the 38.5 km Line 4 which will be served by 35 stations. The first section Alsos Veikou – Goudi line (Section A) will be 12.8 km long with 15 stations, 9 of which are designed as interchange stations. The EUR 1.2 billion contract was signed in 2021 and in February 2022 Attiko Metro and EIB signed a EUR 580 million agreement to support the construction of this section.
National authorities expect that in the next 16 months – at the end of 2023 beginning 2024, five new stations will be inaugurated as part of the EUR 1.5 billion Thessaloniki metro project covering the construction of a 9.6 km long line and 13 stations, including a depot in the area of Pylea. The line will be operated by 18 driverless and air-conditioned trains. When completed, the line will be used by 313,000 passengers per day reducing the road traffic by 57,000 cars each day. This will reduce the CO2 emissions by 212 tonnes daily.
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