11/15/2024
Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is preparing for the long-awaited opening of its metro, which will be the second in the country after Athens. The official launch is scheduled for November 30, 2024, and this event is expected to transform daily life in the city by easing residents’ commutes and reducing traffic congestion.
The metro system will feature two lines covering a 9.6 km route with 18 stations, of which 13 will be operational at launch. The Y-shaped network allows both lines to share most of the route before diverging in the city’s western areas.
Starting from the new central railway station, the metro line runs beneath key city streets — Monastiriou, Egnatia, and Delphi — and ends in the Nea Elvetia district. This new transit system will employ driverless, remotely controlled trains, although each train will have onboard staff. During the initial phase, 18 trains will operate with a frequency of 2.5 minutes, and as the fleet expands to 33 trains, this interval will reduce to 1.5 minutes. The system’s capacity is expected to reach up to 18,000 passengers per hour in each direction, allowing for a daily ridership of up to 254,000 passengers.
Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Nikos Tachiaos announced plans to introduce a unified ticket system for all modes of public transit, including buses and the metro, which will simplify transfers and enhance urban mobility. This new ticketing system, which includes plastic cards and paper tickets, is currently being tested, with fare and discount options to be announced soon.
With the metro’s opening, Thessaloniki, a city of 800,000 people (1 million in the metropolitan area) plagued by constant traffic congestion, will gain a more convenient and efficient urban transit solution. The new transport system is expected to significantly ease pressure on the road network and reduce the frequency of traffic jams.
The Thessaloniki metro project was launched in 2006 under the direction of the Greek-Italian company Elliniko Metro, which previously managed similar projects in Athens. Originally, completion was planned for 2012, but the project faced multiple delays due to archaeological discoveries beneath Venizelou Street. Artifacts unearthed include the foundations of ancient buildings, columns, coins, and other relics from the Late Roman Empire (3rd–6th century AD). All discovered artifacts will be preserved in a special museum at the Venizelos metro station, safeguarding cultural heritage for future generations.
The Thessaloniki metro’s opening will be a significant event for all of Greece, representing an important step in urban infrastructure development and enhancing the quality of life for city residents.