Proposals for “smart” Tramway extensions that could change Athens

Athens Tramway is the most “endangered” means of fixed rail transport in the capital, as in comparison with the Metro, or even the Suburban Railway (which has shown a great momentum lately) seems a bit… faded. Currently, apart from the network extension to Piraeus and the studies for an additional expansion project to Keratsini (the “natural” extension of the line towards the suburbs of Piraeus), nothing big is under consideration regarding the Western Suburbs of the capital or the improvement of its interconnectivity with other means of transport.

According to Mr. Yiannis Polyzos, Architect-Town Planner and Professor at NTUA, speaking at Ypodomes.com, there are three major extensions that could help the Tramway to serve new areas and operate complementary to Athens Metro and other train services. As Mr. Polyzos noted, Tram will finally enter the city of Piraeus but not in the best way, as there has been a compromise in the design.

The Tram also stopped in Syntagma Sq., resulting in not serving densely populated areas, such as Patissia. “It is not a problem that we already have a Metro Line underneath Panepistimiou St. for 500 meters. Tram has another role to play. It is intended for smaller distances and could co-exist with the pedestrians, it is a different travel tool. Today it is ineffective and has to pass through the Northeastern areas of the city. We have proposed a radical intervention to cover them”, Mr. Polyzos explained.

“The first is the extension towards Patission St. It is the line Syntagma-Omonia-Patissia, reaching up to Ano Patissia. Part of this extension was part of the project for the pedestrianization of Panepistimiou St., an idea that unfortunately never progressed. This extension is about 6 km long and costs about 72mio euros (roughly 12mio euros per kilometer).

Stations of this extension would be at: Panepistimiou, Omonia, Eghiptou Sq., and then: Athens University of Economics and Business, Aggelopoulou, Amerikis Sq., Lisiatrio/Kallifrona, Koliatsou Sq., Aghios Loukas, Fix Galatsiou, Laskaratou/Sarantaporou, Ano Patissia (connection with Athens Metro Line 1).

The second plan is an expansion via Omonia Sq. towards Piraeus St. all the way to the boundaries of Athens Municipality (approximately up to Chamosternas St.), which will be connected to Keramikos Metro Station and Suburban Railway Station “Rouf” (within walking distance). This line could serve the areas of Psiri, Metaxourghio, Gazi and even a part of Tavros, while promoting the prospect regarding the creation of a large Tramway “ring network” (Omonia-Piraeus-Faliro-Singrou Av.-Syntagma Sq.).

The length of this axis is estimated at 3.5 km and its cost is expected to reach 42mio euros, with the following five stations: Omonia, Koumoundourou Sq., Keramikos, Gazi, Petrou Ralli/Benaki Museum and Tavros.

The third and equally interesting idea concerns a vertical Tramway, starting from Larissa Station, crossing over and running on Alexandras Av. all the way to “Aghia Sofia” Children’s Hospital and Athens University campus. Here, we have an excellent proposal as this line would connect Athens Central Railway Station (creating an important transportation hub) to the eastern part of the city as it would pass from Victoria Station of Athens Metro Line 1, the future Station of Line 4 “Alexandras”, Ampelokipi Station of Line 3 to finally end near the future station of Line 4 “Panepistimioupoli”.

This line would also serve “Pedio tou Areos” Park, Arios Paghos area, Panathinaikos’ Stadium, “Elpis” Hospital and “Aghios Savvas” Hospital. Its length has been estimated at 5 km, costing around 60mio euros with 9 stations: Larissa Station, Acharnon Av./Ioulianou St., Patission St./Eghiptou Sq., “Pedio tou Areos” Park, Panathinea, Arios Paghos, Ampelokipi, Mesoghion Av. and “Aghia Sofia” Children’s Hospital.

As Polyszos commented: “Let’s make Tram reach Patissia neighborhood, and Tavros via Piraeus St., having as a final target to create a ring with the existing line.

With these interventions, Larissa Station, from a ‘forgotten’ station, could become a junction running along Alexandras Ave., and all that with an estimate cost of 12-13mio euros per kilometer”.

Nikos Karagiannis-ypodomes.com

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