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Next stop Kalamaria: Thessaloniki Metro extension begins operations today
🇬🇷 Greece /Energy & Infrastructure

Next stop Kalamaria: Thessaloniki Metro extension begins operations today

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • The Thessaloniki Metro's extension to Kalamaria officially began commercial operations on August 27, adding five new stations.
  • The new line covers 4.78 kilometers, bringing the total network to 14.4 kilometers and significantly reducing travel time across the city.
  • The expansion is expected to serve approximately 63,000 passengers daily, potentially removing 12,000 cars from central roads and reducing daily carbon dioxide emissions by 25 tons.

Thessaloniki's public transportation landscape has been transformed with the official launch of the metro's extension to Kalamaria today, August 27. Five new stations are now open to passengers, promising to drastically alter daily commutes within the city.

The route from Mikra to the center will now take less than 20 minutes.

Highlighting the time savings from the new metro extension

The journey from Mikra to the city center will now take less than 20 minutes. The new stations – "Nomarchia," "Kalamaria," "Aretsou," "Nea Krini," and "Mikra" – add 4.78 kilometers to the existing network, bringing the total length to 14.4 kilometers. The entire metro system will revert to its regular operating hours, with plans for 24-hour service on weekends during the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF).

A key change for passengers is at the "25th March" station, where the line branches. Two out of every three trains will head to Kalamaria, while one will continue to Nea Ewia. This will result in a three-minute wait time on the common section and up to 4.5 minutes on the Kalamaria branch. The fleet has been augmented with 15 new trains, bringing the total number of available vehicles to 33. The standard integrated ticket remains valid for travel to the new stations without any additional charge.

Two out of every three trains will go to Kalamaria and one to Nea Ewia.

Explaining the train frequency and branching at 25th March station

Bus lines are being reorganized to function as feeders for the new metro stations. The Mikra station is set to become a major transportation hub for eastern Thessaloniki, though the lack of organized parking facilities remains a challenge requiring a solution. Access to three stations will initially be under temporary conditions due to pending issues on Pontou Street, with road axis opening expected in the fall and completion within nine months.

The waiting time on the common section will be three minutes, while on the Kalamaria branch it will reach 4.5 minutes.

Detailing expected waiting times for passengers

The new stations are designed to be shallower and brighter, facilitating quicker passenger access to platforms. This extension is projected to serve approximately 63,000 passengers daily on the eastern side of the city. It is estimated that 12,000 cars will be removed from central Thessaloniki streets each day, leading to a reduction of 25 tons of carbon dioxide emissions daily. Some access points will be temporary due to ongoing street work.

The Mikra station is being converted into an important transport hub for the whole of eastern Thessaloniki.

Describing the role of Mikra station
About this summary

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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