Athens Metro: two new line extensions to the southern and northern suburbs of Athens in the pipeline

After the start of the works for the first section of Metro Line 4, Alsos Veikou-Goudi and the announcement of the tender for the extension of Line 2 to Ilion (Anthoupoli-Agios Nikolaos), the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and Attiko Metro is aiming for the two subsequent extensions of the network.

After a decade when the Metro failed, due to the economic crisis, to expand as much as it should have, the needs for the wide expansion of the network have accumulated. In this context, we see that after the promotion of the above major Metro projects became possible, new generations of extensions and lines will come as well.

The new line Thisio-Cultural Center SNF

The first to lead is the new branch of line 1 Thisio-Cultural Center Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNFCC). The new line was mentioned in two consecutive interviews last week by the Minister of Infrastructure, Kostas Karamanlis. As he stated, in about two years the project will be able to be tendered.

The period of 2 years is necessary to complete the maturation of the project, to obtain the necessary approval of the environmental study and to prepare the tender documents. In the new branch of line 1, (Line 1B), the design study has progressed and the stations have been located. The next step is to proceed with the topographical, geological and geotechnical studies. The definitive studies will then have to be prepared.

The project budget is estimated at 400 million euros. THISEIO station will be a common station for both lines. Afterwards, the new line will move underground all the way to Kallithea and the stations HAMOSTERNAS, PLATEIA DAVAKI, LOFOS FILARETOU, SNFCC have been zoned.

Extension of line 4 to Marousi-Lykovrisi

But the extension of line 4 is also taking a step forward. As the Minister of Infrastructure stated, the extension of the line that will cover Kifissias Avenue, one of the most congested central axes of the capital, is already being studied.

This extension, in addition to covering Kifissia Av. up to its connection with Attiki Odos, continues north-west through Amarousiou and Pefkis, reaching Lykovrisi quite close to the National Highway.

It is a much-needed addition to further decongest the city’s road axes beyond the obvious value of creating new stations along Kifisias Avenue. The areas it will cover are Filothei, Chalandri, Maroussi, Pefki and Lykovrysi.

The studies are currently at an initial stage and the topographical and geotechnical studies have progressed. This €1.2 billion project will include 10 underground stations: KATEHAKI (connection to line 3), FILOTHEI, FAROS, SIDERA, OLYMPIC STADIUM, PARADEISOS (connection to Suburban Railway), OTE, MAROUSI (connection to line 1) , PINE, LYKOVRYSI.

The subway extension plans

According to what has become known, in the plans of Attiko Metro and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the extensions of line 4 to Petroupoli and PYRKAL (future line 5), of line 2 to Menidi and Glyfada, as well as the extension of line 1 to Varibombi have been included . Finally, there is the issue of undergrounding line 1 from Faliro to the PIRAEUS terminal.

The financing needs for these projects, including the extensions to Kallithea and Maroussi/Lykovrysi, exceed 3.5 billion euros, according to the indicative costs. These projects with their implementation will change the image of Athens as practically we will be talking about a network of 6 lines with over 110 stations that will cover most of the metropolitan area of the capital.