Thessaloniki Metro

Route map

Thessaloniki Metro
Overview
Native nameΜετρό Θεσσαλονίκης
OwnerElliniko Metro S.A.
Area servedThessaloniki metropolitan area
LocaleThessaloniki, Greece
Transit typeRapid transit
Number of lines2 (1 under construction, 1 planned)
Number of stations44 (18 under construction, 26 planned)
Daily ridership678,000 (projected)
Annual ridership116.8 mln
WebsiteOfficial Elliniko Metro page
Operation
Operation will startNovember 30, 2024 (Line 1, Basic Project), Summer 2025 (Line 1, Kalamaria Extension)
Operator(s)Thessaloniki Metro Automatic (THEMA)
Infrastructure manager(s)Azienda Trasporti Milanesi (51%) and Egis Group (49%)[1]
CharacterUnderground
Number of vehicles33 Hitachi Rail Italy Driverless Metro[2]
Headway90 seconds[2]
Technical
System length14.28 km (8.87 mi) in 2024[3][4]
31.6 km (19.6 mi) when finished[5][3][4][6]
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification750 V DC third rail[2]
Top speed90 km/h (56 mph)[2]

The Thessaloniki Metro (Greek: Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης, Metró Thessaloníkisⓘ, [meˈtro θesaloˈnicis]) is an underground rapid-transit system under construction in Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city. Estimates for the cost of the megaproject are €1.62 billion ($1.83 billion) for the main line and €640 million ($723 million) for the Kalamaria extension, for a total of €2.26 billion ($2.55 billion). The project is primarily funded with loans from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and funds from the Greek government. Construction by a Greek-Italian consortium is overseen by Elliniko Metro S.A., the Greek state-owned company which oversaw construction of the Athens Metro and Athens Tram. It will operated by the Thema S.A. Franco-Italian consortium.

Proposed during the 1910s and first seriously planned in the 1980s, construction of the main line began in 2006 and on the Kalamaria extension in 2013. The system under construction has 18 stations and 14.4 km (8.9 mi) of tunnels.

After years of delays, due mainly to archaeological discoveries in the city centre during construction and in part to the Greek financial crisis, the main line is scheduled to open on 30 November 2024.[8][9][10] The system will be entirely driverless.

  1. ^ "Κλείδωσε η διαχείριση του Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης στο σχήμα ATM-EGIS" [Management of the Thessaloniki Metro by ATM-EGIS has been confirmed]. www.ypodomes.gr. 8 July 2023. Archived from the original on 29 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Technical Description (PDF), Attiko Metro S.A., 1 December 2014, archived from the original (PDF) on 11 September 2018
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Istoriko was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Attiko Metro S.A. "Extension to Kalamaria". www.ametro.gr. Archived from the original on 19 September 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  5. ^ Elliniko Metro S.A. "Extensions". www.ametro.gr. Archived from the original on 10 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018. To this end, ELLINIKO METRO S.A. is designing and suggesting a solution combining both individual extensions into a circular line of a unified form.
  6. ^ "ΑΤΤΙΚΟ ΜΕΤΡΟ: "Το Μέτρο στη πόλη μας" με το πρώτο του βαγόνι. Συμμετοχή της Αττικό Μετρό Α.Ε. στην 83η Δ.Ε.Θ." [Attiko Metro: "The Metro in our city" with the first carriage. The participation of Attiko Metro S.A. at the 83rd Thessaloniki International Fair]. www.ametro.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  7. ^ "Thessaloniki Metro: 44 stations by 2040". Gazzetta (in Greek). Athens: Liquid Media. 20 May 2024. Archived from the original on 22 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  8. ^ Newsroom (4 September 2022). "Καραγιάννης: Η Θεσσαλονίκη θα έχει μετρό στα τέλη του 2023". www.kathimerini.gr. Retrieved 10 October 2022. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  9. ^ "After 18 Years Construction, Thessaloniki's Metro Will Open in 2024". The National Herald. 5 October 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  10. ^ "PM pledges Thessaloniki metro delivery on November 30 | eKathimerini.com". www.ekathimerini.com. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.