Thessaloniki Metro: Italian-French consortium bid for the operation & maintenance contract

The tender of the Thessaloniki Metro is moving forward, as, according to information, the ATM-EGIS RAIL consortium for the project of maintenance and operation of the network has been the successful tenderer. The consortium is expected to finally “lock” the project with the completion of the special procedure that is followed in tenders and of course is subject to legal appeals that may arise. Attiko Metro continues the tender that started at the beginning of the year.

The consortium consists of the Italian public transport company of Milan, Azienda Trasporti Milanesi (ATM), which has also for years undertaken the operation and maintenance of the Copenhagen Metro, which is the twin brother of the Thessaloniki Metro, but also the well-known in Greece, French multinational EGIS, a group that has decades of experience in metros (with and without a driver) but also diverse activities in our country.

The AKTOR Concessions – Neotrans scheme also participates in the tender. The project is implemented using the PPP method and has a value including VAT of 362.08 million euros (amount without VAT 292 million euros), for the assignment for 11 years of the maintenance and operation of the Thessaloniki Metro, i.e. the 14.5 km from  Neos Sidirodromikos Stathmos to Nea Elvetia and the extension to Kalamaria (25 Martiou-Mikra).

The project contract

The object of the PPP project is the operation and maintenance of the Thessaloniki metro network and the rolling stock as well as the supply, installation and commissioning of the relevant information system. It concerns the Thessaloniki Metro line network consisting of Line 1: New Railway Station-Nea Elvetia and Line 2:  Neos Sidirodromikos Stathmos  -Mikra.

The duration of the contract is set at 132 months, i.e. for a period of 11 years. According to the announcement, no further extension of the contract period is provided.

The total estimated value of the contract including VAT is EUR 362.08 million (without VAT EUR 292 million). The repayment of the project is the sole responsibility of the Contractor, while ATTIKO METRO S.A. has an obligation to pay to the Contractor as a contractual price 100% of the availability payments from the Public Investment Program of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. The project will be implemented in two periods and in particular:

The preparatory period, during which the contractor will organize the operation as a whole through:

the staffing, training and certification of the required personnel,

the procurement, installation and commissioning of the IT-ERP Information System

the preparation of the documents and manuals necessary before the start of operation

the issuance of licenses and certifications required for the start of operation

During the period of commercial operation, during which the contractor will provide services: Operation, Maintenance, Cleaning, Security.

Another 15 new trains

In the Thessaloniki Metro, in addition to the ATM-EGIS consortium that undertakes the maintenance and operation of the network, the contract for the supply of 15 additional new trains for the Thessaloniki Metro has been signed for about 3 months at the offices of Attiko Metro. The procurement of the 15 new trains was undertaken by the AKTOR-HITACHI joint venture, the only one that participated in the relevant tender.

The additional purchase of trains from Attiko Metro will cover the needs both on Line 1 ( Neos Sidirodromikos Stathmos – Nea Elvetia) and the extension to Kalamaria (Line 2:  Neos Sidirodromikos Stathmos – 25 Martiou – Mikra).

Of the 15 trains, six are planned for the main line with a total of 24 trains and the rest will cover the extension to Kalamaria while they will operate automatically without a driver.

To date, for the Metro, the 18 trains provided for in the contract for the main project of Line 1 Neos Sidirodromikos Stathmos-Nea Elvetia have been received, they are Italian-made by the company Hitachi.