Thessaloniki Suburban Railway

The Thessaloniki Suburban Railway,[1] (Greek: Προαστιακός Σιδηρόδρομος Θεσσαλονίκης, Proastiakós Sidiródromos Thessaloníkis) is a three-line Proastiakos commuter rail service connecting the city of Thessaloniki with its metropolitan area and other regions beyond, including Imathia, Pella and Serres.

Thessaloniki Suburban Railway (Proastiakos)
A Stadler GTW 2/6 terminating at Thessaloniki.
A Stadler GTW 2/6 terminating at Thessaloniki.
Overview
OwnerOSE (Lines), Gaiose (Buildings and Trains)
Area servedCentral Macedonia, Western Macedonia, and Thessaly
Transit typeCommuter rail, regional rail
Number of lines3
Number of stations44
Websitewww.hellenictrain.gr (operator)
Operation
Began operation7 September 2007 (2007-09-07) (Line 1)
25 January 2008 (2008-01-25) (Line 2)
3 February 2020 (2020-02-03) (Line 3)
Operator(s)Hellenic Train
Number of vehiclesEMUs OSE Class 560 DMUs
Technical
System length248.9 km (154.7 mi)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Electrification25 kV AC, 50 Hz overhead lines
(Thessaloniki-Larissa only)
Top speed160 km/h (99 mph)(Thessaloniki-Larissa)
120 km/h (75 mph) (Platy–Florina)

Unlike the Athens Suburban Railway, the three lines served are rather medium-distance regional rail connections on three major axes to Edessa and Serres, Central Macedonia, and Larissa, Thessaly. Thessaloniki metropolitan area itself will served by the Metro Thessaloniki.

History

Proastiakos Thessaloniki started its operations on 9 September 2007 with the first line Thessaloniki-Katerini-Litochoro connecting the urban centers[2] of Thessaloniki, Katerini, and the beaches of South Pieria and was the first suburban connection of areas outside Athens.

On 7 September 2008, with the completion of the electric drive in the Thessaloniki-Domokos section, the line was extended to Larissa.[3] Later, the already existing line Thessaloniki-Edessa via Veria was included as a suburban one with the prospect of electrification in the near future. At the same time, in May 2008, the preliminary feasibility study of the 'SUBURBAN REGIONAL RAILWAY OF THESSALONIKI' was completed, in which the new railway connection Thessaloniki - Pella through Giannitsa was included. This study, which was updated in March 2018 at a relevant conference in Giannitsa, awaits its finalization in accordance with the commitment of the Prime Minister, at the regional development conference for Central Macedonia held in March 2018 in Thessaloniki.

On February 3, 2020, a third suburban line was inaugurated that connects Thessaloniki with Serres.[4]

On the 4 November 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic many services across the network were suspended.[2]

Lines and services

Thessaloniki Suburban Railway consists of three lines:

Trains run from approximately 6:00 am to 22:00 pm daily on a fairly irregular basis, roughly once an hour. Both lines, however somewhat complement each other between Thessaloniki and Platy.[5][6] On 17 July 2014 services were cut back from eight to six services a day from Thessaloniki To Edessa.[6]

Proastiakos routes
Route Opening Route Length Electric Top Speed Stations
Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π1 7 September 2007 (Litochoro–Thessaloniki)

7 September 2008 (Larissa–Litochoro)

 Thessaloniki–Larissa 165.2 km (102.7 mi) Yes 160 km/h (99 mph) 12
Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π2 25 January 2008 (Thessaloniki–Edessa)

10 August 2013 (Edessa–Florina)

 Thessaloniki–Florina 111.7 km (69.4 mi) No 120 km/h (75 mph) 17
Π3 3 February 2020 (Thessaloniki– Serres) Thessaloniki–Serres 158.9 km (98.7 mi) No 20

List of stations
† Terminal station
*† Terminal with Metro/OSE servises
# Station Lines Services Connections Regional unit
1 Adendro Athens–Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki–Bitola		 Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π1 Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π2 Thessaloniki
2 Aiginio Athens–Thessaloniki Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π1 Pieria
3 Alexandreia Thessaloniki–Bitola Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π2 Imathia
4 Cherso Thessaloniki–Alexandroupoli Π3 Kilkis
5 Doirani Thessaloniki–Alexandroupoli Π3 Kilkis
6 Edessa *† Thessaloniki–Bitola Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π2 Pella
7 Episkopi Thessaloniki–Bitola Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π2 Imathia
8 Gallikos Thessaloniki–Alexandroupoli Π3 Kilkis
9 Hersos Thessaloniki–Alexandroupoli Π3 Kilkis
10 Kastanoussa Thessaloniki–Alexandroupoli Π3 Serres
11 Katerini Athens–Thessaloniki Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π1 Pieria
12 Kefalochori Thessaloniki–Bitola Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π2 Imathia
13 Kilkis Thessaloniki–Alexandroupoli Π3 Kilkis
14 Korinos Athens–Thessaloniki Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π1 Pieria
15 Kouloura Thessaloniki–Bitola Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π2 Imathia
16 Larissa *† Athens–Thessaloniki Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π1 Larissa
17 Leptokarya Athens–Thessaloniki Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π1 Pieria
18 Lianovergi Thessaloniki–Bitola Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π2 Imathia
19 Litochoro Athens–Thessaloniki Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π1 Pieria
20 Loutros Thessaloniki–Bitola Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π2 Imathia
21 Mandhraki Thessaloniki–Alexandroupoli Π3 Serres
22 Mesi Thessaloniki–Bitola Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π2 Imathia
23 Metalliko Thessaloniki–Alexandroupoli Π3 Kilkis
24 Mouries Thessaloniki–Alexandroupoli Π3 Kilkis
25 Naousa Thessaloniki–Bitola Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π2 Imathia
26 Nea Filadelfeia Thessaloniki–Alexandroupoli Π3 Thessaloniki
27 Neo Petritsi Thessaloniki–Alexandroupoli Π3 Serres
28 Neoi Poroi Athens–Thessaloniki Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π1 Pieria
29 Omalo Thrakis Thessaloniki–Alexandroupoli Π3 Serres
30 Pedino Thessaloniki–Alexandroupoli Π3 Kilkis
31 Petrea Thessaloniki–Bitola Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π2 Pella
32 Platy Athens–Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki–Bitola		 Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π1 Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π2 Imathia
33 Rapsani Athens–Thessaloniki Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π1 Larissa
34 Rodopolis Thessaloniki–Alexandroupoli Π3 Serres
35 Serres *† Thessaloniki–Alexandroupoli Π3 Serres
36 Sidirokastro Thessaloniki–Alexandroupoli Π3 Serres
37 Sindos Athens–Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki–Bitola		 Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π1 Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π2 Thessaloniki
38 Skotoussa Thessaloniki–Alexandroupoli Π3 Serres
39 Skydra Thessaloniki–Bitola Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π2 Pella
40 Struma Thessaloniki–Alexandroupoli Π3 Serres
41 Thessaloniki *† Athens–Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki–Bitola		 Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π1 Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π2 Π3 Thessaloniki
42 Veria Thessaloniki–Bitola Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π2 Imathia
43 Vyroneia Thessaloniki–Alexandroupoli Π3 Serres
44 Xechasmeni Thessaloniki–Bitola Proastiakos Thessaloniki Line Π2 Imathia

Thessaloniki-Larissa Line
Thessaloniki Suburban Railway map c.2012, (before Line 3 was introduced)

The Line connects the Macedonian regional capital with the Thessalian regional capital. It has a total of 12 stations and is displayed in blue on TRAINOSE maps. It was inaugurated on 9 September 2007 and initially connected Thessaloniki with Katerini and the beaches of South Pieria and Litochoro, while on 7 September 2008 with the completion of the electrification of the Thessaloniki-Domokos section of track services were extended to Larissa.[7] The section Thessaloniki-Katerini-Litochoro is the first suburban connection outside of Athens. Today, services commence from Thessaloniki station passes through Sindos, Adendro, and Platy, where it is separated from the line Thessaloniki - Edessa, continues southeast to Korinos, the city of Katerini, Litochoro, and then south to Neos Resources of Pieria. Finally, it passes east of Rapsani, through Tempi, and after crossing the Evangelism of Larissa, it ends in the city of Larissa. The line connects the urban centres of Thessaloniki, Katerini, and Larissa, as well as Pieria's southern coast, thus connecting Central Macedonia's areas with Thessaly. In the future, the construction of an intermediate stop in Panteleimon between Neoi Poroi and Leptokarya is foreseen for the re-service of Platamonas.

Thessaloniki-Florina Line

The Line connects the Macedonian regional capital with Florina in Western Macedonia. It has a total of 25 stations and is displayed in red on TRAINOSE maps. It was inaugurated in 2010 and initially connected Thessaloniki with Veria and Edessa. Later, the route to and from Florina was included in the line, which was initially operated by regional trains. In May 2008, the already existing line Thessaloniki-Edessa via Veria Line was included as a suburban service with the prospect of electrification in the near future.

Today, the service begins from Thessaloniki station, passing through Sindos, Adendro, and Plati Imathia, where it is separated from the Athens - Thessaloniki line, continues southwest to Veria, north to Naoussa and Skydra, and then west to Edessa and Lamb. Then, it continues southwest along Lake Vegoritida to Amyntaio, and after turning north to Vevi, it heads west for the last time to reach Florina. The line connected the urban centres of Thessaloniki, Veria, Florina, and Edessa as well as the waterfalls of the same name, thus uniting areas of Central and Western Macedonia.

Thessaloniki-Serres Line

The Line connects the Macedonian regional capital with its second-largest city Serres. It has a total of 20 stations and is displayed in light blue on TRAINOSE maps. Services commenced on 3 February 2020 on what is the 3rd line of the Thessaloniki suburban network, Forming the daily connection of the two cities with existing intermediate stations.[8][9]

Future expansion

In May 2008, the Greek government's National Transport Plan outlined the aspiration for a second link to Edessa, via Giannitsa serving Chalkidona and Pella along the way, of 50 km (31 mi) in length allowing a 30-minute reduction in journey time.[10] This study, which was updated in March 2018 at a relevant conference in Giannitsa, awaits its finalization in accordance with the commitment of the then Prime Minister, at the regional development conference for Central Macedonia held in March 2018. Other projects include:

See also

References
  1. "Athens Suburban Railway". Hellenic Train. Athens. 26 October 2022. Archived from the original on 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  2. Προαστιακός Σιδηρόδρομος Archived 4 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Θεσσαλονίκη – Λάρισα σε 1:09 με Προαστιακό Archived 2018-03-25 at the Wayback Machine euro2day.gr
  4. "Τι άφησε στη Θεσσαλονίκη το περιφερειακό αναπτυξιακό συνέδριο" (in Greek). Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  5. "Schedule Kalambaka–Larisa–Thessaloniki" (PDF). TrainOSE. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  6. "Schedule Thessaloniki–Edessa–Florina" (PDF). TrainOSE. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  7. "Θεσσαλονίκη – Λάρισα σε 1:09 με Προαστιακό".
  8. "Η Προαστιακή Σιδηροδρομική γραμμή Θεσσαλονίκη Σέρρες έγινε πραγματικότητα- Δείτε το πρόγραμμα του δρομολογίου και τις τιμές". 29 January 2020.
  9. "Η Προαστιακή Σιδηροδρομική γραμμή Θεσσαλονίκη Σέρρες έγινε πραγματικότητα- Δείτε το πρόγραμμα του δρομολογίου και τις τιμές - Epiloges". 29 January 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  10. "National Transport Plan for Greece - Final Report - June 2019" (PDF). National Transport Plan. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  11. 26/11/2007 at 23:58 (26 November 2007). "ΠΡΟΑΣΤΙΑΚΟΣ ΣΙΔΗΡΟΔΡΟΜΟΣ Ν.ΠΕΛΛΑΣ – www.ecology-salonika.org". Ecology-salonika.org. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  12. "ΟΣΕ Μελέτες για νέους σταθμούς". www.makthes.gr. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  13. "Thessalonikipress.gr".
  14. "Αυτή είναι η μελέτη για το City Train της Θεσσαλονίκης (χάρτης)". Retrieved 29 January 2023.
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