Athens Suburban Railway: new extensions from Rafina to Pallini and the Airport under examination

ERGOSE is examining the double extension of the Suburban Railway to Rafina. The project that is included in the projects that will be auctioned with the system of competitive dialogue will cover the constantly rising residential areas of Eastern Attica and the second largest passenger port of Attica.

According to a presentation made by the CEO of ERGOSE at the ITC 2021-4th Conference on Infrastructure-Transport, Christos Vinis, the extension of the Suburban Railway includes two alternative layouts that can be applied in combination.

The first concerns the connection of the existing suburban railway station “Pallini” through the already constructed railway corridor of Stavros-Rafina road (located in the middle of the highway), extension from Spata to Rafina and the second leg from the Airport and ElB Airport. specifically from its northern exit to Rafina.

Which stations are planned and which are being examined

This extension is considered extremely important as the location of stations in Pallini, Artemida and Rafina and in addition stops in Glyka Nera, Stavros and Pikermi are examined.

The first alternative is about 17 km long and the second is about 7 km. Both alternatives have as their field of study the construction of a double suburban railway line. The estimated cost of the project is about 300m euros.

The most important element of these studies is that -if it qualifies- the Athens International Airport will be connected with the second largest passenger port of Attica, Rafina, strengthening its prospects. The alternative route from Pallini creates a direct connection of the capital with Eastern Attica and Rafina and the connection is achieved without transfer from the port of Piraeus and the Central Railway Station of Athens, Neratziotissa and Doukissis Plakenia.

Also, due to the ability of some Metro trains to use the railway network, a route of line 3 to Eastern Attica and Rafina could potentially be created in the future in the standards of its connection with El. Venizelos Airport.

The start of the competition

The start of the tender for the extension to Rafina is estimated, according to information, to take place together with the other projects of the competitive dialogue in the next period and in any case within 2021.

It should be reminded that ERGOSE has a package of six projects amounting to 3.3 billion euros for the connection of the country’s major ports with the national railway network and in addition to the extension to Rafina, an extension to Lavrio is also planned. This will achieve the connection of the 3 most important passenger ports of Attica with their interconnection with the system of fixed orbit means that the capital has.

The implementation of the new railway projects is part of the concept of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport for the development of rail transport in the next 15 years.