Proastiakos
The Proastiakos is Greece's suburban railway services, which are run by TrainOSE, on infrastructure owned by the Hellenic Railways Organisation.
As of March 2016, there are three Proastiakos networks, servicing the country's three largest cities: Athens, Thessaloniki and Patras, providing them with commuter rail links towards their suburbs and also with regional services to other cities and towns. That year, the three systems carried 10.1 million passengers.
As of 8 January 2017, the lines between central station of Athens and Halkida have been electrified allowing EMU train service. The lines have been changed making the central station of Athens the main layover station. Those lines are Athens – ATH, Athens – Kiato, Athens – Chalcis.
In Thessaloniki, there are two Proastiakos services. The first connects the city's New Railway Station with the cities of Katerini and Larissa and the second links the city with Edessa.
In July 2010, a new commuter rail service was launched in Patras, connecting the city with Rio.
Photography and videography is permitted across the entire Proastiakos network; however, the security personnel may often prohibit camera usage.
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 27 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 Central Station 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 9 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.
Proastiakos Athens
Proastiakos of Athens consists of 6 routes:- Piraeus - Athens – Airport
- Piraeus - Athens – Kiato
- Athens – Chalcis
- Ano Liosia – Airport
- Kiato - Aigio
- Airport - Kiato
Connections
- Piraeus: The suburban station is located close to the Metro Line 1 terminus.
- Athens Central : connection with Metro line 2.
- Nerantziotissa: Connection with Metro Line 1.
- Plakentias: connection with Metro line 3.
- Kato Acharnes : connecting the line Kiato-Piraeus with Piraeus-Airport and Chalcis-Athens .
- Acharnai : passengers can transfer to the mainline and regional rail service of Greece.
- 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.
- Kiato: passengers can transfer to TrainOSE bus services to Patras.
Proastiakos Thessaloniki
The following table lists the routes and the stations for the Proastiakos network of Thessaloniki, Larissa and Florina is:
Route | First section opened | Latest section opened | Latest station opened | Route | Length | ||
Pieria Line | 7 9 2007 Katerini - Litochoro | 7 September 2008 | 7 September 2008 | - Katerini – Thessaloniki | 165.2 km | 12 | |
Imathia-Pella Line | 25 1 2008 | 10 August 2013 | 10 August 2013 | Thessaloniki - | 156.4 km | 22 |
Connections
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.
- Larissa: passengers can transfer to the mainline and regional rail service as well as trains to Volos.
Proastiakos Patras
- Agios Vasileios
- Aktaion
- Rion
- Kastellokampos
- Bozaitika
- Agyia
- Panachaiki -New Museum
- Patras Central Station
- Agios Andreas
The following table lists the routes and the stations for the Proastiakos line of Patras is:
Route | First section opened | Latest section opened | Latest station opened | Route | Length | |
A | 9 7 2010 | Agios Andreas – Agios Vasileios | 12.5 km | 9 |
On February 29, 2020 passenger services began on the second route, extending from Agios Andreas all the way to Kato Achaia. The extension runs on part of the old single meter-gauge Patras-Pyrgos line.
At the early phase of operation, the line will see trains running from Kato Achaia to Patras Central Station. They will be departing from Patras Central Station every 2 hours from 6:37 to 14:37 and then from Kato Achaia Station every 2 hours from 7:41 to 15:41.
For the first three days of operation the early morning services of 6:37 and 7:41 will not be run, although a back and forth journey at 16:37 to Kato Achaia and at 17:41 to Patras Central Station is going to be run. This special schedule is organised in order to help visitors move around the city and its suburbs during the Patras Carnival going on that weekend.
Although regular passenger service will not see trains running in the evening, it is expected that from May onwards, when the tourist and summer season begins, trains will run hourly back and forth in order to accommodate the increased passenger flows towards the popular summer spots in Western Achaia.
The extension is 22 km long and has 11 stops. These are:
- Patras Central Station
- Agios Andreas
- Odos Antheias
- Ities
- Paralia
- Midilogli
- Vrachneika
- Tsoukaleika
- Kaminia
- Alissos
- Kato Achaia
The total journey time from end to end is around 30 minutes with a top speed of 75 km/h, although the line has the capacity to run at 90 km/h.
Fares
The price for a standard ticket is €1,40. However, the fare is expected to change after March 2, as a new fare and zone policy will take effect as follows:
Zone A: Rion - Agios Andreas
Zone B: Patras Central/Agios Andreas - Tsoukaleika
Zone C: Tsoukaleika - Kato Achaia
The bus shuttle/replacement services are included in the same ticket. This means passengers do not have to pay more than the standard fare of €1,40 to use both the train and the bus.
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 are used for Piraeus - Athens - Airport, Piraeus - Athens - Kiato, Athens – Chalkis and Thessaloniki - Larisa services, while Stadler GTW-2/6 and MAN-2000 diesel two-car multiple units are used for the Patras-Rio and Patras-Kato Achagia 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, 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 central Athens to the Airport costs €8 and a return ticket €16.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.
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 : The station is extended with new platforms to serve future suburban services. Completed as of August 2017.
- 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: Is open after the slow lines between Agioi Anargyroi and SKA are operational.
- Lykotrypa: Is open after the slow lines between Agioi Anargyroi and SKA are operational.
- Acharnai Railway Center : The station is partly open since 2011-04-05, extensive work is still required to finish the first phase of the complex.
Section: SKA – Koropi - Lavrio
- Markopoulo
- Kalyvia
- Kouvaras
- Keratea
- Amphitrope
- Thoriko
- Lavrio
- Port of Lavrio
Section: SKA – Pallini - Rafina
Future services to Rafina will be on new lines, currently securing funds. 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
Section: SKA – Corinth / Kiato / Xylokastro / Loutraki
- Zefyri: A new station planned to serve a future sports center, if built in the area.
- Xylokastro: Extension to Xylokastro is under construction.
- Loutraki branch:
- *Isthmos
- *Loutraki
Section: SKA – Halkida / Thiva
- Acharnai Railway Center
- Acharnes
- Dekeleia
- Agios Stefanos
- Afidnes
- Sfendali
- Avlon
- Agios Thomas
- Oinofyta
- Oinoi, Junction to Chalkis
- *Kalohori–Panteihi
- *Avlis
- *Steno
- *Halkida
- Tanagra
- Elaion
- Ypaton
- Thiva