Athens Metro: Plans to reach the National Highway

The dual connection of the metro with the National Highway is a priority. Attiko Metro the company that runs the Athens subway system has already pegged two new extensions of the fixed track network to the north. With the aim of giving breath to one of the most burdened axes of the capital, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport looked for the most suitable solution and thus the extension of Line 1, known as the electric railway, from Kifissia to Varibombi was high on the agenda of the new extensions.

In anticipation of the future northern phase of the new Line 4 to the National Highway, the northern suburbs of the capital are in need of a more immediate solution. Thus, Attiko Metro is studying, as the managing director, Mr. Nikolaos Kouretas said, speaking at the 5th Athens Investment Forum, the undergrounding of the current station of Kifissia and the connection of Line 1 with the National Highway. The extension of the electric railway will pass through Nea Erythrea and will end up at the Varymombi junction.

As long as the project matures and the necessary financing is found, then the electric railway will arrive faster than any other solution to the National Highway. The project budget is estimated at around 200 million euros.

Of course, the northern extension of Line 4 will also end there in the future, the first phase of which from Alsos Veikou to Goudi has started construction. Initially, the orange line will connect to Marousi from Goudi with seven new stations. It will serve the municipalities of Psychiko-Filothei, Chalandrio and Amarousi. Then, it will head towards National Highway. The twin project has an estimated budget of over €1 billion.

Tender for the extension to Ilion by year’s end

The tender for the extension of Line 2 with three new stations from Anthoupolis to Palatiani, Ilion and Agios Nikolaos is in the final stretch. The new extension will be 4 km long and is estimated to serve daily 46,000 residents of the areas through which it will pass and a total of 51,000 passengers, significantly reducing the time currently required to reach the city center.

The project’s budget will amount to 500 million euros as it will also include the expansion of the Eleonas depot, by 20,000 sq.m., with rolling stock maintenance infrastructure. As Mr. Kouretas explained, the extension of the depot is necessary, as the company is rapidly preparing to announce a tender in early 2023 for new trains that will augment Lines 2 and 3. The project’s timeline is five years.

In the next phase, the further extension of Line 2 is planned with three stations to Kamatero and Ano Liosia, where it will be connected to the suburban railway on Attiki Odos, finally ending in Acharnes (centre of Menidi).

Priority is also given to the maturation of the project for the 5 km long underground connection of the electric raiway to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, after the station of Thisio to Kallithea, with four stations: Hamosternas, Davaki Square, Filaretou Hill/Tzitzifies and SNFCC. The cost is estimated at 450 million euros. The next phase of the line’s development will extend towards Paleo Faliro, along Amphithea Avenue.

The “southern” extension of Line 2 from Elliniko, 4.4 km long, with stations in Ano Glyfada, Vouliagmenis Avenue and Glyfada, with a budget of 350 million euros, is still being prepared. There are still two extensions of the new Line 4 in the planning. These are the 4.1 km long section “Evangelismos – Ano Ilioupoli”, with three stations, and “Alsos Veikou – Petroupoli”, the 7.5 km long section with six stations in Nea Ionia, Pefkakia (correspondence with Line 1), Nea Filadelfia, Agioi Anargyrou (Pyrgos Vasilissis), Ilion and Petroupolis. The total budget of the two projects is estimated at close to 1 billion euros.