Piraeus – Athens Airport suburban train connection set for summer

‘’By the end of 2016, we will have completed the installation of the electric drive at Athens station and expect that within two months the required infrastructure will be in place so that the project begin operations allowing the connection of Larissa Station to the airport,’’ Ergose Managing Director Thanos Vourdas told Greek daily Imerisia, adding that by the summer of 2017, the Piraeus-airport connection will be a reality.

In the meantime, the suburban train – known as ‘’proastiakos’’ in Greek – will also be extending to the town of Kiato in the Peloponnese, allowing passengers to board at Larissa Station in central Athens for Corinth-bound destinations, including the port of Patra without requiring a change of trains. Further plans also include the introduction of a line to Thiva.

At the same time, the central Athens Larissa Station will be undergoing renovation works including establishing a connection with the metro, opening lower-level passageways and reshaping of the station’s main building. The works are budgeted at 46.7 million euros to be funded by the EU’s National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) – 2014-2020, and will be completed within a 30-month period from the contract finalization.

“The tender documentation for the upgrade of Athens’ central station is ready with the official launch of the tender expected to be announced in March 2017. The aim is to have awarded the project by the fall of 2017,” Vourdas said.