Athens’ urban transport system is entering a new phase of upgrading its strategic planning, as the new, comprehensive operational plan to strengthen Tram services comes into effect on Monday, September 7.
With the aim of increasing transport capacity along the coastal front and in the city center, which currently stands at 55,000 passengers, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Giorgos Kotsiras has made it a priority for STASY to increase services during peak hours.
The new operational plan focuses on the network’s two main arteries, taking into account passengers’ demand for more frequent services. A significant increase in service frequency during peak hours and a noticeable reduction in intervals between trams are planned.
Specifically:
On Line 6, Syntagma–Pikrodafni, two additional trams will be deployed in the morning and one in the afternoon. As a result, the interval between services will be reduced from the current 9 minutes to 7 minutes 30 seconds in the morning and 8 minutes 10 seconds in the afternoon, while the number of daily services will increase from 232 to 244.
At the same time, on Line 7, specifically on the Asklipiio Voula–SEF section, two additional trams will be deployed during peak hours, reducing the average interval on this section from 12 minutes to 9 minutes 50 seconds, while the number of services will increase from 189 to 205.
For the proposed plan to be fully implemented, the number of trams operating during the morning peak will increase to 27 trams running simultaneously, from the 23 currently in operation. The overall operational plan also provides for two additional trams kept in reserve, as well as one tram undergoing preventive maintenance. In this way, STASY management is ensuring preventive maintenance of the vehicles and the uninterrupted operation of the service schedule.
The implementation of this expanded program, according to officials from the Ministry of Transport and STASY who spoke to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA), is accompanied by a substantial investment in the organization’s human resources.
The increase in services creates the conditions for further development and increased employment in the transport sector.
In this context, the recruitment of new tram drivers has already been set in motion. “The plan to strengthen Tram services represents an undeniable success and a decisive step toward sustainable urban mobility in the capital,” the officials said, while also emphasizing that “this initiative marks a new era for urban mobility, offering faster, more frequent and more reliable journeys for thousands of passengers every day.”
With the completion of the supporting infrastructure projects, the strengthening of the workforce and the optimal management of the fleet, the Tram is establishing itself as a modern and reliable means of transport serving the public.
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