On April 17, the Greek Minister of Infrastructure, Christos Spirtzis, launched the test run on the double-track Kiato – Rodofani rail section, part of Corinth – Patras line.
After 8 years of suspension, railway traffic will be resumed when train tests will be completed. The line will improve transport connections and the quality of rail services in the Northern Peloponnese.
“We are removing bottlenecks across our railway network. This is the first train test on the Kiato – Rododafni line and after the completion, it will join the Kiato and Aigion suburban railway network. Soon, the Kiato – Rododafni electrification contract will be signed and works are scheduled to be complete within 1 year and a half. We will also sign the contract on the extension of the suburban railway to Loutraki,” Spirtzis said.
The standard gauge Kiato – Rododafni line has a length of 72 km. The project consisted of construction of a new 7.1-km double-track on Kiato RS– Aigio section, 6 tunnels, totaling 11 km, 8 escape tunnels with a total length of 2,150 m, 18 rail bridges, 63 underpasses and 10 overpasses. The construction works of the structures were performed by ErgOSE. Under the contract, 4 stations at Xylokastro, Akrata, Diakofto and Aigio, and 6 stops at Diminio, Lykoporia, Ligia – Derveni area, Platanos, Elaionas, Eliki were constructed.
In 2014, Metka and ErgOSE signed the contract on the construction of remaining infrastructure, permanent way, signalling, telecommunications and electrical engineering works for the tunnel facilities for the new railway line. For the implementation of the project, Metka collaborated with Thales, as well as with the Greek company Xanthakis, which is specialised in railway track works. By the end of this year, the modern signaling system will be completed, while the final phase of the project envisages the electrification works.
EUR 273 million is the total value of the project, of which the electrification works are estimated at EUR 69 million. The project also envisaged the installation of the ΕΤCS level I signalling and telecommunications system. The project received EU funding under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Priority Axis 2 of the Operational Programme “Accessibility Improvement” of the Greek NSRF 2007-2013.
The Kiato-Rododafni railway line is part of the larger construction project for the new double railway line from Athens (SKA) to Patras and is considered an infrastructure project of significant importance, since upon its implementation it will connect the Peloponnese network with the modern railway network of Athens. The new double-track line Kiato-Patras is the extension of the new Athens-Korinthos-Kiato double-track line, which will link the Greek capital to Patras, the third largest economic centre of the country.
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