TrainOSE


TrainOSE S.A. is a railway company in Greece which currently operates all passenger and freight trains on OSE lines. TrainOSE was acquired in September 2017 by the Italian national railway company, Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane. The company was a subsidiary of the Hellenic Railways Organisation until 2008, when it became an independent state-owned company until its privatisation in 2017. TrainOSE employs all train crews, operators and manages the rail services throughout the Greek railway network, but does not own any rolling stock, leasing rolling stock owned by OSE instead.

Privatisation

The Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund became the sole shareholder of the corporation in April 2013.. An international tendering process for the privatisation of TrainOSE began in July 2013. The Italian state railway group Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane submitted the only binding offer for a 100% stake in TrainOSE, it was announced on 6 July 2016. On 14 July 2016, the privatisation agency accepted Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane's offer, worth 45 million euros, to buy 100% of TrainOSE. TrainOSE's shares were completely transferred on 14 September 2017, and is currently a wholly owned subsidiary of Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane.

Domestic services

Mainline passenger services

TrainOSE operates three types of regional rail passenger services on which include "Regular" trains, Express trains and Intercity trains.
The regular rail service is the slowest, with trains making frequent stops, while it is also the cheapest available. Express trains are faster trains, making fewer stops in sections served by regular trains. Intercity trains are the fastest but the most expensive. The needed supplement on Intercity trains typically doubled or tripled the base fare respectively, but today this is determined more by the different competing forms of transport, mainly air transport. Car transport is also available on night services on the main line from Athens to Thessaloniki.
Passenger accommodation is similar in all classes of long distance trains. Seat reservation, bar and restaurant facilities are available on long distance express and on Intercity trains.
Numbering of the trains is determined by the type of the train. Regular trains have four-digit train numbers, Express trains have three-digit train numbers and Intercity and Intercity trains have two-digit train numbers, preceded by the symbols IC.
The following table shows the situation as of November 2019. Numbers indicate trains on each direction on weekdays, excluding public holidays.
ServiceIntercity
Express &
regular
Athens-Thessaloniki51
Thessaloniki-Alexandroupoli11
Athens-Leianokladi1
Athens-Chalkis12
Thessaloniki-Edessa5
Larissa-Volos11
Athens-Kalampaka1
Palaiofarsalos-Kalampaka4
Alexandroupoli-Ormenio3
Leianokladi-Lamia-Stylis9
Diakofto-Kalavryta3
Larissa-Thessaloniki11

Suburban/Commuter rail services between Piraeus – Athens – Athens International Airport and Kiato are not listed. In addition to the above regional rail services on the OSE network, TrainOSE also operates two suburban/commuter rail services on the remnants of the former Peloponesse metre gauge network:
A limited seasonal/tourist service of one train per day also operates as part of the Pelion railway.
Journey2019
Athens – Thebes1:03
Athens – lianokladi 1:55
Athens – Larisa2:59
Athens – Thessaloniki4:23
Thessaloniki – Serres2:45
Thessaloniki – Alexandroupoli8:11
Thessaloniki – Edessa1:25
Source: Trainose-

Proastiakos commuter rail service

is the name used for the suburban services of TrainOSE in the Athens and Thessaloniki areas. Proastiakos was initially an independent subsidiary within the OSE group, but has since been merged with TrainOSE S.A. The network infrastructure, even if partly purpose-built for the Proastiakos service, is part of the national railway network of OSE, and as such is used by the regional rail services, even freight.
Proastiakos is a relatively new development, with the first service inaugurated for 2004 Athens Olympic Games, between Athens International Airport and Athens. The commuter rail services that are currently operated by Proastiakos include the lines on the 'main corridor' of Piraeus–Athens–Ano Liosia, Ano Liosia–Athens International Airport, Ano Liosia–Corinth–Kiato; and between the cities of Thessaloniki and Larissa.
The rolling stock of the Proastiakos commuter rail services include Class 460 Siemens Desiro five-car electric multiple units, used on the electrified sections of the Ano Liosia–Athens International Airport, Ano Liosia–Corinth–Kiato and Thessaloniki–Larissa lines; while Stadler GTW 2/6 DMUs and MAN-2000 DMUs are used on the non-electrified section between Piraeus–Athens–Ano Liosia.

In Athens, Proastiakos provides connections with Athens metro at Neratziotissa station, Athens Metro line 2 at Athens Central and Athens Metro line 3 at Plakentias station; while it is also the only passenger rail service from Athens to Peloponnese, providing connections with the Peloponnese metre gauge network at Corinth and Kiato stations. These regional rail links have expanded the Proastiakos role from being just a pure suburban-commuter rail service.

Freight rail

As of February 2011 the current regular freight services of TrainOSE consist of:
Other irregular national and international freight services also exist.

International services

On 13 February 2011, due to the Greek financial crisis and subsequent budget cuts by the Greek government, all international services were suspended. The Greek railway system used to connect with the railways of neighbouring countries Bulgaria at Promahonas and at Ormenio, with Turkey at Pythio and with the railways of North Macedonia at Idomeni.
The passenger services from Greece that ran to neighbouring countries until February 2011 were:
However, in May 2014 some international services were re-introduced on the following lines: