A huge scheme to construct a driverless metro rail system in Thessaloniki massively upgrades the city’s public transport infrastructure and looks set to take a large amount of traffic off congested streets. This clean urban transport solution also seeks to reduce levels of pollution and improve road safety.
- 17 June 2015
The overall scheme includes construction of the Main Metro line, which is 9.6 km long and includes 13 stations, plus an eastern extension to Kalamaria, which is 4.8 km long and includes five new stations.
Wide-ranging benefits
When in service, these lines are expected to deliver many benefits to residents and visitors to Thessaloniki. The Main Line alone is expected to encourage more people to use rail services, equivalent to 247 000 new passenger journeys every day. Passengers using the line will see journey times from the new Railway Station to Α. Papanastasiou cut from 50 to 17 minutes. Use of the line also promises to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport by about 5 000 tons per year.
In addition, the Main Line Extension – which cuts travel times between the city centre and the eastern suburbs – is expected to serve 53 338 passengers every day. It also provides around 4 267 new journeys daily during rush hour.
Structured scheme
Because the scheme is so large, it has been broken down into sub-projects, including the following:
Thessaloniki Metro Main Line (Project 1) - Preparatory works and initial tunnel construction works: This project aims to ensure a safe and structured environment for the start of the principal construction works on the Main Line. Work here includes the installation of protective structures prior to excavations, relocation of public utilities and initial tunnelling from the Railway Station up to the Syntrivani junction.Thessaloniki Metro Main Line (Project 2) - Construction works – Phase A: work here includes completion of the main construction works in eight of the Main Line metro stations plus two shafts, as well as tunnel excavation from the Syntrivani track crossing to Nea Elvetia terminal station.Thessaloniki Metro Extension to Kalamaria - Preparatory works – Phase A: This project covers some initial construction on the 4.6 km eastern extension line. It should be noted that Phase B of this project, which is earmarked to take place at a later date, will provide the main construction along with the acquisition of rolling stock.In all, the scheme is expected to deliver 390 permanent jobs when fully operational.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Thessaloniki Metro Main Line (Project 1) - Preparatory works and initial tunnel construction works” is EUR 433 941 313, of which the EU’s European Regional Development Fund is contributing EUR 181 751 760 from the Operational Programme “Macedonia and Thrace” for the 2007 to 2013 programming period. Work falls under the priority “Sustainable Development and Quality of Life in Central Macedonia”.
Total investment for the project “Thessaloniki Metro Main Line (Project 2) - Construction works – Phase A” is EUR 152 660 925, of which the EU’s European Regional Development Fund is contributing EUR 76 164 026 from the Operational Programme “Macedonia and Thrace” for the 2007 to 2013 programming period. Work falls under the priority “Sustainable Development and Quality of Life in Central Macedonia”.
Total investment for the project “Thessaloniki Metro Extension to Kalamaria - Preparatory works – Phase A” is EUR 51 800 000, of which the EU’s European Regional Development Fund is contributing EUR 27 034 760 from the Operational Programme “Macedonia and Thrace” for the 2007 to 2013 programming period. Work falls under the priority “Sustainable Development and Quality of Life in Central Macedonia”.