Athens Metro: studies for the extension to the Northwest are underway

While the focus in the Athens Metro has been on the new Line 4, planning for further expansions continues in the Athens Metro, one of which is the extension of Line 2 towards Menidi. For this specific extension to proceed, the implementation of the extension of Line 2 towards Ilion (Anthoupoli-Agios Nikolaos) must precede it. This extension has been under tender for almost a year now.

This extension will bring the metro to the borders of Ilion and Kamatero, and the next phase will be the subsequent extension that will essentially cover three more large population areas. It will be the final extension of Line 2, which along with the extension to Glyfada, will total 26 stations.

Where will the three new stations be located?

The extension of the Metro, specifically Line 2 towards Menidi, will include three new underground stations. The first station will be called “KAMATERO” and will be constructed on Phylis Street, the second station “ZEFYRI” will be connected to the homonymous station of the Suburban Railway, and the terminal station will be called “ACHARNES” and will be located in the center of Menidi.

Elliniko Metro has determined the route of the project, and topographic studies have already been completed up to the second station at the intersection with the Attiki Odos.

According to the scheduling of the Athens Metro, in the near future, the remaining topographic surveys, as well as geological, geophysical, and geotechnical investigations and studies, will be tendered. The completion of the project is estimated to mature by 2027-2028.

This means that potentially, and depending on the needs and priorities of the Elliniko Metro network, funding for the project could be scheduled within the framework of the next programming period (i.e., at least during the period 2028-2034).

With the extension of the Metro to Menidi, the more remote areas northwest of the urban complex of the capital will be covered. It will serve three different municipalities: Agii Anargyri-Kamatero, Fyli, and Acharnes-Thrakomakedones. Overall, these three municipalities have a population exceeding 210,000 inhabitants, and they encompass areas with significant industrial and, in some cases, manufacturing activity.

With the connection of the Metro to the ZEFYRI station of the Suburban Railway, passengers will be able to transfer between the Metro network and the Suburban Railway network, providing new significant alternative transportation options within the capital’s rail transit system.

Moreover, the connection with the populous and geographically extensive municipality of Acharnes will bring the Metro to a developing area. The journey from Acharnes to Omonia will take approximately 23 minutes, whereas currently it takes almost an hour either by bus or by private vehicles.

The extension towards Ilion

At this time, the primary focus is on the extension of the red Line 2, from Anthoupoli to Agios Nikolaos in Ilion. This will be the first extension of the line in 10 years. It’s worth noting that back in 2013, extensions to Elliniko and Anthoupoli were opened, and since then, there haven’t been further expansions, as efforts were concentrated on Line 4.

The tender process commenced last May with the expression of interest phase, and the current objective is to progress to the second phase. If feasible, the aim is to select the contractor for the major project this year through the submission of bids.

The project costs 680 million euros, and its funding will be covered by its inclusion in the ESPA 2021-2027. The three stations to be added to the network will be: PALATIANI, ILION, AGIOS NIKOLAOS. The ILION station will eventually become an interchange station with the extension of Line 4 to Petroupoli.

In this way, Line 2 partially reverts to being the “line of the Saints” once again. Until 2013, before the then-extensions to Elliniko and Anthoupoli were put into operation, Line 2 extended from Agios Dimitrios to Agios Antonios and was nicknamed the “line of the Saints”.

According to the plans of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and Attiko Metro, in the coming years, the Metro is preparing for further expansion in Kallithea at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (Line 1), in Glyfada (Line 2), in Petroupoli and Lykovrysi (Line 4).

The goal is for the network to reach at least 120 stations by 2040 and to cover the majority of the metropolitan area of Athens.