In eleven months, the country will have a double railway line from Piraeus to Thessaloniki, stated Deputy Minister of Transport Konstantinos Kyrianakis at the 8th ITC 2025 Infrastructure and Transport Conference, held at the Athens Concert Hall Conference Center.

The Deputy Minister, presenting the improvements the Ministry of Transport has implemented and is implementing in railway transport, emphasized that “the railway transport system in the country is changing. We have a new administration under one roof, and now matters are progressing rapidly.”

Mr. Kyrianakis referred to administrative changes in the railway sector, in RAS (Regulatory Authority for Railways), and in EODASAAM, as well as the ongoing renegotiation between the public sector and Hellenic Train.

As Mr. Kyrianakis pointed out, “We have laid the foundations for major changes, and soon training of train drivers on the ETCS system will begin, aiming to have a functional automatic braking system on the railway.”

Additionally, he announced that today the Joint Ministerial Decision (JMD) was signed for psychometric evaluations of railway safety personnel in cooperation with the Hellenic National Defense General Staff (GEETHA).

He stressed that communications must be conducted in a specific way. On both psychometric and operational levels, the highest safety standards must be ensured, and he added that, despite any objections, these changes will benefit railway personnel.

Furthermore, he added that safety mechanisms are being implemented so that an operations center can control trains to within centimeters. He also highlighted the enrichment of the Hellenic Railways human resources with Greeks from abroad, noting that 300 applications are currently under evaluation.

“It is a unique opportunity for the Greek railway to acquire know-how from abroad,” he stated.

According to Mr. Kyrianakis, safety plays a primary role, along with passenger experience. He also mentioned projects for the renovation of stations in Athens and Thessaloniki, the suburban railway, and the expansion of the railway network.

He also highlighted interest from a company (Levante Train) to operate routes in Western Peloponnese.

Regarding freight transport, he stated that the goal is for Thriasio to “come alive with products, containers, and exports, which via the railway will reach all of Europe, leaving a significant imprint for the country.”

He also noted that projects in Thessaly are progressing and will be completed by summer 2026, with inspections conducted by drone for closer monitoring.

Concerning Thessaloniki’s urban transport, he noted that projects to extend the Thessaloniki Metro to Kalamaria are underway, with the line expected to open in early 2026.

He also emphasized the overall strengthening of public transport in the city, stating that by 2026, Thessaloniki will have 550 buses, “further improving the city’s transport network.”

For Athens, he noted that the bus fleet has been renewed, reaching 1,000 new buses, while trolleybus routes will gradually be reduced and replaced by electric buses.

The Deputy Minister also announced that the first refurbished train set on the ISAP (formerly Electric Railway) will arrive in December, and after a two-month trial period, a new train set will be delivered each month.

“Beyond the 14 train sets being refurbished under the existing contract, ten more trains have been added to the fleet, and through the Social Climate Fund, we have new trains for the Metro as well, with the goal of increasing trips to and from the airport,” he noted.

Finally, regarding the reduction of traffic accidents in cities, Mr. Kyrianakis said cameras will be installed on buses and on roads in Attica, and each municipality or region will be able to install its own cameras, generating revenue from traffic violations.