Contract for Sepolia Railway Tunnel ready to be signed

ERGOSE officials estimate that the contract regarding the major railway project for the construction of Sepolia Underground Railway Tunnel will be signed in September. According to ypodomes.com information, the draft contract has already been approved by the Court of Auditors and, at this point, is at the Greek Parliament (since the beginning of August), waiting for its ratification. All in all, the date for the signing of the contract is expected determined soon. The contractor of the project is INTRAKAT – SIDIRODROMIKA ERGA ATE with a 45.71% discount.

The duration of the construction period has been set at 52 months (or 4.5 years), which means that its completion and operation is expected approximately in 2023. The total duration of the project (along with its maintenance) is 88 months. This project will change the look of the surrounding area considerably, as, with the construction of the tunnel, the current railway tracks and the dangerous level crossings will be replaced with green and recreational spaces.

Apart from the safety that will be ensured for pedestrians and vehicles, the redevelopment of the old tracks and the elimination of the noise pollution from passing trains, will upgrade the currently run-down neighbourhoods along the railway line.

Sepolia Tunnel is the first, large-scale railway infrastructure project that has been auctioned in about 3 years. The cost of the project is 151.28mio euros (VAT incl., excl. VAT 122mio euros) and concerns the construction of a 1.9 km tunnel. Total length of the new quadruple, electrified line will be 2.36 km.

With the implementation of this project, the decision of the Council of State, holding from 2004, which had imposed the undergrounding of the lines, will be finally fullfilled. When operational, the tunnel will support all railway traffic to and from Athens. Implementing entity of this project is ERGOSE.

It is noteworthy that there is a provision for the uninhibited operation of the existing lines, during the construction phase of the underground tunnel. Upon the completion of the western part of the tunnel, trains will be transferred to the first 2 underground lines. The eastern part will be then removed, in order for the 2 remaining underground lines to be constructed, that will also conclude the project. Tunnelling works will require “surgical precision” as they pass between the existing Metro Tunnel of Line 2 and the city’s main water pipe.

 

Nikos Karagiannis-ypodomes.com

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