Proastiakos
| Proastiakos | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Background | |
| Owner | Athens Mass Transit System |
| Locale | Greater Athens and surrounding areas, Thessaloniki and nearby cities, Patras |
| Transit type |
Commuter rail Urban rail |
| Number of lines | 5 (total) |
| Number of stations | 79 (total) |
| Website | TrainOSE (operator) |
| Operation | |
| Began operation | 2004 |
| Operator(s) | Operated by TrainOSE |
| Technical | |
| System length |
223.1 km (139.4 mi) (Athens) 274.1 km (168.8 mi) (Thessaloniki) 12.5 km (7.8 mi) (Patras) |
| Track gauge |
1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) (Athens and Thessaloniki) 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) (Patras) |
| Electrification | 25k V DC Overhead lines |
| Top speed | 160 km/h (99 mph) |
Proastiakós (Greek: Προαστιακός), is the name used for the suburban (commuter rail) services of TrainOSE, servicing Greece's three largest cities: Athens, Thessaloniki and Patras; providing them with modern commuter rail links, towards their suburbs and also towards other cities and towns located around them. The service, operated by TrainOSE uses infrastructure of the Hellenic Railways Organisation (OSE).[1]
In Athens, the service connects the port of Piraeus and the Athens Central Railway Station with Athens International Airport, while also providing commuter rail links to Kiato, via Corinth. There are plans to extend the "Proastiakos" service to Loutraki and Xylokastro (west of Athens), Chalkis and Thiva (north of Athens) and to Rafina and Lavrio in southeast Attica.
In Thessaloniki, "Proastiakos" operates two services. The first connects the city's New Railway Station with the city of Larissa and the second connects the city with Edessa.
In July 2010 a new commuter rail service was launched in Patras, connecting the city with Rio. There are plans to extend this service towards Psathopyrgos and Kato Achaia.
History
The concept of a regular and frequent suburban and commuter rail services was introduced in Greece in the 1990s. It became possible due to extra capacity becoming available through improvements to the existing lines and the construction of new ones. In the past suburban services ran on very infrequent timetables and were not very popular.
The construction of a new rail line between central Athens, its eastern suburbs and the new Athens International Airport was decided in 1992-1993. During the construction of Attiki Odos motorway in the late 1990s, space was left between the main carriageways for the railway line and after two years of construction, the line to Athens International Airport opened in 2004. The first suburban services between Athens and the Airport were inaugurated using Stadler GTW and Siemens Desiro DMU trains.
On the 27th of September 2005, the new standard gauge rail line reached Corinth, terminating at a new station, located at Examilia. This line today is served by "Proastiakos" suburban services, while initially "Proastiakos" trains stopped at Nea Peramos, Megara, Kinetta and Agioi Theodoroi. On 18 July 2006 three new stations were added: 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 extension linked the airport with the port of Piraeus. On the 9th of July 2007, Proastiakos services reached the new station at Kiato.
TrainOSE also runs "Proastiakos" commuter rail services between the cities of Thessaloniki and Larissa, on the modernised and electrified main line. The service initially operated from Thessaloniki to Litochoro in 2007 and was extended to Larissa in 2008.
In 2009 the brand name "Proastiakos" was also used for a short-lived regional service of four trains in each direction per day, connecting the cities of Xanthi, Komotini and Alexandroupolis in the region of Western Thrace.
Routes and stations
Athens
Proastiakos of Athens consists of two routes: one from Piraeus to Chalcis with a branch to Ano Liosia and one route from Kiato to the Airport.[citation needed] Trains run from approximately 5:00am to midnight daily.[2][3]
The following table lists the routes and the stations for the Proastiakos network of Athens is:
| Route | Map colorI | Elec. | First section opened | Latest section opened | Latest station opened | Route | Length (km, mi) | Stations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dark Blue | 30 July 2004 | 4 June 2007 | 8 August 2010 (Agioi Anargyroi) | Piraeus – Chalcis/Ano Liosia | 87.5 km (54.7 mi.) | 20 | |
| 2 | Orange | 2004 | 30 July 2004 | 9 July 2007 | 8 August 2010 (Metamorfosi) | Kiato – Airport | 135.1 km (84.4 mi.) | 21 |
Thessaloniki
Proastiakos of Thessaloniki consists of two routes: one from Thessaloniki to Larissa and one from Thessaloniki to Edessa.[citation needed] Trains run from approximately 5:00am to midnight daily.[2][3]
The following table lists the routes and the stations for the Proastiakos network of Thessaloniki, Larissa and Florina is:
| Route | Map colorI | Elec. | First section opened | Latest section opened | Latest station opened | Route | Length (km, mi) | Stations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pieria Line | Dark Blue | 2007 | 7 September 2007 | 7 September 2008 | 7 September 2008 (Larissa) | Larissa – Thessaloniki | 165.2 km (103 mi.) | 12 |
| Imathia-Pella Line | Red | 25 January 2008 | 10 August 2013 | 10 August 2013 (Florina) | Thessaloniki - Florina | 156.4 km (71.3 mi.) | 22 |
Patras
Proastiakos of Patras consists of just one route from Agios Andreas to Agios Vassileios with a bus service from Kastellokampos to the hospital and the University of Patras.[citation needed] Trains run from approximately 5:00am to midnight daily.[2][3]
The following table lists the routes and the stations for the Proastiakos network of Patras is:
| Route | Map colorI | First section opened | Latest section opened | Latest station opened | Route | Length (km, mi) | Stations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Light Blue | 9 July 2010 | Agios Andreas – Agios Vassileios | 12.5 km (7.8 mi.) | 8 |
Connections
The suburban railway connects with the other urban railways of Athens in the following stations:
- Piraeus: The suburban station is located close to the Metro Line 1 terminus.
- Athens Central (Larissa Station): connection with Metro line 2.
- Nerantziotissa: Connection with Metro Line 1.
- Plakentias: connection with Metro line 3.
- Pallini: shared station with Metro line 3.
- Paiania–Kantza: shared station with Metro line 3.
- Koropi: shared station with Metro line 3.
- Airport: shared station with Metro line 3.
The Proastiakos service towards Kiato also connects to the following long distance and regional rail services:
- Acharnai (SKA): passengers can transfer to the mainline and regional rail service of Greece.
- Kiato: passengers can transfer to TrainOSE bus services or to the metre gauge rail service to Patras.
The Proastiakos service towards Larissa also connects to the following long distance and regional rail services:
- Thessaloniki: future connection to Thessaloniki Metro
- Platy: passengers can transfer to the regional rail service of Western Macedonia (towards Verroia, Edessa, Amyntaio, Florina and Kozani).
- Larissa: passengers can transfer to the mainline and regional rail service.
Rolling stock
Proastiakos uses rolling stock owned and maintained by OSE S.A. Currently multiple units are used almost exclusively. Siemens Desiro 5-car electric multiple units (EMU) are used for Ano Liosia-Airport, Airport-Kiato and Thessaloniki-Larisa services, while Stadler GTW-2/6 and MAN-2000 diesel two-car multiple units (DMU-2) are used for the Piraeus-Ano Liosia and Patras-Rio services. As these DMUs have limited passenger carrying capacity, two or three DMUs are coupled together, when rolling stock availability allows it.
Fares
Standard tickets (€1,40), valid on all urban buses and trains, are also valid on Proastiakos trains between Piraeus, SKA, Koropi and Magoula. Higher fares apply for travel to the Airport, between Magoula and Kiato; and between Thessaloniki and Larisa. A one-way ticket from Piraeus or Athens to the Airport costs €8 and a return ticket €14.
Tickets must be validated on special ticket validation machines on the platform, before boarding the train. Return tickets must be re-validated before boarding a return train. There are no ticket validation machines on the trains.
Future plans
Addition of new routes and stations to Proastiakos services depends on the progress of a number of OSE infrastructure projects in Attica. The most important projects are:
- Construction of a three or four track line between Rouf and SKA stations.
- Electrification of lines between Piraeus and SKA.
- Installation of signalling on lines between Piraeus and SKA.
- Construction of ten passenger platforms and one "through track" at Athens Central station.
- Construction of new stations at Tavros, Pyrgos Vasilissis, Lykotrypa and Zevgolatio.
As of April 2011, introduction of new and more frequent services is mainly hidered by limited line capacity between Rouf and SKA; and limited availability of diesel rolling stock for the non-electrified line.
Section: Piraeus – S.K.A.
A number of new stations and halts are under construction on this line and they shall be served by Proastiakos trains:
- Tavros
- Athens (Athens Central Railway Station): The station is extended with new platforms to serve future suburban services.
- Agioi Anargyroi: New four platform station served by mainline and suburban trains, plus a freight siding. The fast line platforms are already operational and are served by Proastiakos and Athens-Chalkis trains. The slow lines are under construction.
- Pyrgos Vasilissis: Shall open after the slow lines between Agioi Anargyroi and SKA are operational.
- Lykotrypa: Shall open after the slow lines between Agioi Anargyroi and SKA are operational.
- Acharnai Railway Center (SKA): The station is partly open since 2011-04-05, extensive work is still required to finish the first phase of the complex.
Section: SKA – Athens International Airport / Rafina / Lavrio
Future services to Rafina will be on new lines, currently under consideration. The line to Rafina shall branch off after Pallini station and will partly run on the central reservation of the Hymittus Ring Road. The stations will be:
- Pikermi
- Kallitechnoupoli
- Rafina
The extension to Lavrio will mostly follow the alignment of the old Athens to Lavrio metric gauge line, which closed to passengers in 1957 and to goods in 1962. Most of the old alignment is still intact, and several bridges, all station buildings as well as the tracks themselves on many locations, are still in situ, but will need to be replaced as they were designed for a single metric gauge line, while the new one will be standard gauge and double-track for most of its length. The new line will branch off the airport line just beyond Koropi station. New stations will be built at Markopoulo, Kalyvia, Keratea, Amphitrope, Kouvaras, Thoriko and Lavrio, at or near the same site as their predecessors, the buildings of which, most of them listed structures, will hopefully be preserved. The line will be electrified from the outset.
Section: SKA – Corinth / Kiato / Xylokastro / Loutraki
The existing line to Kiato is being extended to Xylokastro, which shall be the final destination of suburban trains. A branch line to Loutraki is under consideration but is delayed due to reactions by the local authority.
- Zefyri: A new station planned to serve a future sports center, if built in the area.
- Xylokastro: Extension to Xylokastro is under construction.
See also
References
- ↑ The brand name "Proastiakos" (correct spelling is "Proasteiakos") which translates as "suburban", is derived from ancient Greek "proasteion" (suburb, προάστειον), "pro + asty (προ-άστυ)" meaning "before the city". However the same brand name has also been used for some regional rail services.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Urban Rail Transport S.A.: First & Last Train Departures". Urban Rail Transport S.A. (STASY). Retrieved 2013-07-25.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Urban Rail Transport S.A.: Detailed TRAM Timetables". Urban Rail Transport S.A. (STASY). Retrieved 2013-07-25.
Further reading
- G. Nathenas, A. Kourbelis, T. Vlastos, S. Kourouzidis, V. Katsareas, P. Karamanis, A. Klonos, N. Kokkinos (2007). Από τα Παμφορεία στο Μετρό (in greek) 2. Athens: Μίλητος (Militos). ISBN 978-960-8460-91-1.
External links
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