Proastiakos

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A Proastiakós train in Athens Central Railway Station
A Proastiakós train in Athens Central Railway Station

Proastiakós (Greek: Προαστιακός, meaning "Suburban") is the name used by the suburban railway network of Athens, Greece. It currently connects Larissa station (Athens Central Railway Station) with Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport and Kiato (via Corinth). There are plans to extend the Proastiakos to Loutraki and Patra westwards, Thiva and Chalkida northwards, Rafina and Lavrio eastwards and Piraeus southwards. This new rail system is operated by OSE (Organismós Sidirodrómon Elládos – Hellenic Railways Organisation), the state railway organization.

The suburban railway connects with the rest (urban) railway network of Athens in the following stations:

  • Piraeus: connection with the metro (line 1)
  • Athens (Larissa station): connection with the metro (line 2)
  • Nerantziotissa: connection with the metro (line 1)
  • Plakentias: connection with the metro (line 3)
  • Pallini: shared station with the metro (line 3)
  • Paiania–Kantza: shared station with the metro (line 3)
  • Koropi: shared station with the metro (line 3)
  • Airport: shared station with the metro (line 3)

Contents

[edit] History

The route of the line was first marked out in 1994. In 1997, bridges were constructed. During the construction of the route 6 of the Attiki Odos in the late 1990s, space was left between the main carriageways for the Proastiakos line. After two years of construction, the Proastiakos stretch to Eleftherios Venizelos opened in 2004.

On 27 September 2005, the Proastiakos reached Corinth (the station is near southern Corinthian suburb of Examilia). Apart from the new Proastiakos station in Corinth, four new stations became fully operational on the same day, namely: Nea Peramos, Megara, Kinetta and Agioi Theodoroi. From December 2005 almost all the passenger trains of OSE to Peloponnese (Patras, Kalamata etc.) depart from the new Peloponesian terminus (where passengers change to or from the suburban railway).

On 18 July 2006, 3 new stations were inaugurated: Ano Liosia, Aspropyrgos and Magoula. On 4 June 2007 the line was extended from Athens to the port of Piraeus with 3 intermediate stations at Lefka, Rentis and Rouf. This gives a direct rail link between the airport and the port of Athens, where most ferry services to the Greek Islands depart from. On 9 July 2007, the Proastiakos is now accessible from Kiato, Corinthia.

The new double track railway line between Athens and Patras is expected to be ready by 2010.

Unfortunately Proastiakos services are of limited use to potential passengers and, especially, commuters, as most stations are not directly accessible from population centers.

[edit] Current routes

Attention: Some of the services listed below are currently (April - June 2008) suspended due to work in progress between Athens/Central and SKA. Notably there is no longer a direct Piraeus-Airport service. New services starting June 2008 shall be announced soon.

  • Route map and diagram: [1] [2]

[edit] Piraeus – Athens International Airport

[edit] Piraeus – Kiato

[edit] Kiato – Athens International Airport

Ano Liosia station
Ano Liosia station

[edit] Planned lines and stations (Future projects)

[edit] Section: Piraeus – S.K.A. (planned improvement of the existing line)

  • Tavros (under construction – 2007)
  • Votanikos (planned)
  • Athens (Athens Central Railway Station)
  • Thymarakia (planned)
  • Agioi Anargyroi (planned)
  • Pyrgos Vasilissis (planned)
  • Lykotrypa (planned)
  • SKA (under construction - late 2007)

[edit] Section: SKA – Athens International Airport "Eleftherios Venizelos" / Rafina / Lavrio (new lines)

[edit] Section: SKA – Corinth / Kiato / Xylokastro / Loutraki (new line)

    • [b] Loutraki junction:

[edit] Section: SKA – Halkida / Thiva (planned improvement of the existing lines)

[edit] External links