Piraeus prepares for the advent of the Metro and the Tramway

The Municipality of Piraeus is now a few months away from the operation of the newly extended Tram network and the all-new Athens Metro Station (Line 3) within its boundaries. These large-scale projects that have been under construction for years, are now under completion and about to transform urban transport in the area forever.

The Metro

Concerning the construction of the new Metro Stations, works are progressing well and according to the Attiko Metro’s schedule, by next June, 3 new stations will be released to operation: AGHIA VARVARA, KORYDALLOS and NIKEA, improving traffic conditions considerably. These 3 are essentially the first “half” of the extension, that will eventually reach the “heart” of Piraeus city center: the Municipal Theater (DIMOTIKO THEATRO).

Time distance between Nikea and Syntagma will drop to about 15 minutes, while Aghia Varvara – Syntagma will be just 10 minutes away (today this trip takes more than 45 minutes). The new stations will also be directly connected to Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos).

In 2021 the Line will acquire another 3 stations: MANIATIKA, PIRAEUS and MUNICIPAL THEATER, linking permanently the center and the Port of Piraeus with the center of Athens, the Airport and, of course, the rest of the capital’s Metro network.

The Tram

Tramway’s extension projects have been completed in terms of the line’s construction and the installation of the electrification systems with just a few finishing touches now remaining. Trial operation will follow and in the coming Spring, the new line will be released to commercial operation.

This will also mean the direct connection of the center and the Port of Piraeus to Athens, via Nea Smyrni and Neos Kosmos, but also to the Southern Suburbs (P. Faliro, Alimos, Elliniko, Glyfada, Voula). The extension concerns a single 5.4 km-long circular line.

The operation of the two fixed-rail means of transport is expected to bring a restructuring of existing bus routes, by limiting their pass-throughs from the center Piraeus, creating small local routes.

Nikos Karagiannis-ypodomes.com