Athens Metro Upgrade: 300 Million Euro Works In The Pipeline, From Stations To Trains

The CEO of Statheres Sygkoinonies S.A. (STASY), Thanasis Kottaras, gave a particularly interesting interview to journalist Nikos Karagiannis and the show “Building the Future,” a production by Imerisia in collaboration with ypodomes.com and supported by the AVAX Group.

Mr. Kottaras spoke about the major projects currently being carried out across the Athens Metro network, with a total budget of €300 million, aimed at upgrading the passenger experience.

The projects

At present, projects worth €100 million are under implementation, while an additional €200 million concern the planning of upcoming works on both the Metro and Tram networks.

Specifically, on Metro Line 1 (Piraeus – Kifisia), a renovation program for 14 trainsets supplied by the Spanish company CAF is underway. The goal is to begin receiving the refurbished trains at the start of 2026, with all 14 expected to be integrated into the system within the same year, thereby reducing service intervals.

At the same time, a project for energy generation from train movement is also underway, scheduled for completion in 2026. Through this initiative, STASY will be able to save energy generated from the trains’ own operation, enhancing the network’s overall energy efficiency.

Renovations and Energy Upgrades

Another major project on Line 1, the old “electric railway,” is the renovation of the Poulopoulos Bridge in Petralona — the largest railway bridge in Attica. The project is currently underway and expected to be completed by 2026.

At the same time, works are in progress to replace the existing lighting with LED systems to reduce energy consumption, as well as to fence off certain sections of the line where interventions are deemed necessary.

In the area of train refurbishment, a funding request has been submitted for the renovation of an additional 10 trains on Line 1, which have been in operation since 1993. The proposed funding amounts to €60 million and, if approved, will lead to a tender process in 2026.

Meanwhile, STASY is implementing a program to clean graffiti from Line 1 trains — some of which have remained covered for years. The company has now found an effective method, and the challenge is to keep the trains clean over time.

Extensions, Studies, and Maintenance

It is also noteworthy that the studies for the section Faliro–Piraeus are nearing completion, with decisions expected soon, as this is the only part of Line 1 that has not yet been renovated.

According to STASY’s current plan, projects worth €15 million are being carried out on Lines 2 and 3, while an additional €130 million worth of projects are being prepared. For the first time, a large-scale replacement of 32 km of tracks is also underway — the same ones that were installed when the two lines first opened in 2000.

Station Upgrades

Next on STASY’s agenda is a “lifting” program for the stations, involving new color schemes and waterproofing improvements. A funding request has also been submitted to renovate the first-generation trains of Lines 2 and 3, which currently lack air conditioning.

The plan further includes the replacement of escalators and elevators across all three lines, with the aim of improving the passenger experience. With additional trains, more frequent services will become possible.

To support this upgrade, STASY is also expanding its workforce: by the end of the year, 370 new employees will be hired to fill key operational positions.

24-Hour Operation and Record Passenger Traffic

Speaking about the introduction of 24-hour operation on Saturdays, STASY CEO Mr. Kottaras described it as a major challenge:

“This is something happening for the first time in Athens. It required extensive studies and system adjustments to make it feasible.”

So far, about 50,000 passengers use the metro every Saturday. In 2025, the system broke all previous records in ridership, recording a 5% increase — reaching a total of 840,000 daily passengers across all lines.

For more details and the complete article in Greek, click here