New railway projects in Peloponnese -worth 1bn euros- announced by Infrastructure Minister

The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Mr. Christos Spirtzis, announced during the proceedings of Olympia Forum in the past weekend, the upgrading of a substantial section of the railway network of Western Peloponnese, the operation of the Kiato-Eghio railway line as well as upcoming tenders for new railway projects, with a total budget of 1bn euros.

More specifically, he said that the construction of the new double-track railway line, stops and stations on Kiat-Eghio section are under completio, while the works in Rododafni are expected to be completed in March 2019, making it possible for the trains to use the new section. He also added that until May 2019 there will be a contractor for the electrification of Kiato-Rododafni section.

The Minister said that infrastructure works for the new double-track line from Rododafni to Rio, including the the twin railway tunnels in Panagopoula, with a budget of 389m euros, are proceeding satisfactorily and are estimated to be completed in June 2020.

He announced that in 2019, the installation of signaling-electrification systems as well as stations’ infrastructure from Rododafni to Rio, will be also auctioned, as they are now “mature” projects, with a cost of 120m euros.

For the 2nd quarter of 2019, he predicted the contract awards of the project for the normalization of the existing single-track, metric-gauge railway line between Isthmos and Loutraki, along with the necessary electrification works.

It is noteworthy that the Minister also proclaimed the tender regarding the undergrounding of the upgraded double-track railway line from Rio to Aghios Dionysios (Patra), during this year.

“After many decades and consultations with the local authorities, the Region and the Municipality of Patra, funding has been finally secured and it is really fortunate for the city that the section Rio-Aghios Dionysios will be fully undergrounding” the Minister commented. Although he didn’t mention the cost of these projects, it is estimated to exceed 300m euros.

What came as a totally new announcement from Mr. Spiritsis was tendering of 2 projects in 2019, with a total budget of 600m euros: Patra – Pyrgos – Kalamata axis which includes the upgrading of the railway sections: Patras-Pyrgos-Alfios-Olympia and Pyrgos-Katakolo, with a total length of 132 km. The tender, is expected to take place in the 2nd quarter of 2019 as all the necessary studies and permits have been prepared and finalized.

The second project concerns the upgrading of the railway line on the sections: Alfios-Kalo Nero-Kyparissia and Kalo Nero-Pyrgos, with a total length of 118 km. The relevant tender is again expected to take place in the second half of 2019, while final studies are currently under completion.

Nikos Karagiannis-ypodomes.com