The long history of the Thessaloniki Metro:

Construction for Line 1 of the Thessaloniki Metro started in spring 1999 to enter regular service in 2006. The city chose a fully automated system provided by a consortium formed by Bombardier, Bouygues and other companies. The line was to be 9.4 km long, totally underground and have 14 stations spread along the harbour bay.

The 36 light rail vehilcles are based on the Dockland Light Rail vehicles, but will obviously be equipped with air-conditioning.

Repeated reports tell us that until spring 2003, construction hadn't really started. So the whole project was postponed again and again. The celebration of the Expo 2008 might give the project the final kick-off.

In Aug. 2003, the project was suspended due to a lack of agreement with Bombardier.

In Aug. 2005, Public Works Minister Giorgos Souflias said the 800-million-euro tender to build the 9-km line with 13 stations had been awarded to a Greek-Italian consortium, headed by domestic firm AEGEK, which would begin work as soon as the legal paperwork had been completed. Souflias said it was possible that other bidders might appeal against the award.

March 2006: Long-awaited Thessaloniki metro works to begin in May Construction work to build a long-proposed metro system in the northern city of Thessaloniki will begin in May after whatever obstacles in a tender procedure have been cleared up by the European Union, Public Works Minister George Souflias said on Monday. Speaking to reporters, the minister said the project was expected to be ready in 2012. It will feature 9.5 km of lines with 13 stations.

7 April 2006: Contract signed between Attiko Metro and Ansaldobreda/Ansaldo STS.

28 July 2006: Excavation with TBMs starts in the west of the city near new central station.

Oct 2013: Due to the continuing financial crisis in Greece and archeological finds in the areas of Venizelou and, Aghia Sofia stations, the opening of the metro will not happen before the end of 2016.

Feb 2017: After completion of the first of two tube tunnels, an opening date was announced for 2020.

Aug 2018 (from Global Rail News): Thessaloniki Metro tunnelling completed - Work on the Kalamaria extension Operator Attiko Metro has announced that all of the tunnels of the Thessaloniki Metro have been completed. TBM Frixos arrived at Martiou station on July 31, marking the completion of the metro extension to the suburb of Kalamaria. The extension consists of 4.77km-long bored twin tunnels. Construction on the second tunnel of the extension, which includes five stations, commenced in July 2017. Three TBM access shafts had been excavated during the preparatory works. Attika Metro said that civil works on the whole metro system are 80% complete and work on the Kalamaria extension is now 60% complete. The base line of the metro system was expected to open in 2020 and the Kalamaria extension in 2021.

Aug 2024: The main line (Thessaloniki railway station to Nea Elvetia) is announced to open for passenger service on 30 Nov 2024! The line will be operated by THEMA, a consortium comprising ATM Milan and Egis.

2004 © UrbanRail.Net by Robert Schwandl.