Crete set to have its first railway project in history in light of the new Heraklion International Airport

A historic “yes”, for the creation of the first means of fixed orbit in Crete was given yesterday from the Municipality of the city of Heraklion. The issue was included in yesterday’s Municipal Council, in which, despite the difference in positions, it was voted unanimously by all factions. It concerns the investigation of development methods and feasibility and sustainability studies.

Although the relevant decision is not binding or essential for the implementation of such a plan, it nevertheless shows that there is the will of the local government to claim and operate a means of fixed orbit that will connect the city of Heraklion with the new airport under construction in Kasteli.

Let us remember that we are talking about the creation of a tram-train line that will connect Heraklion to the airport as the beginning of a means that in the future can be extended to other major cities of the island.

The former Mayor of Chania and current member of the Committee for Claiming the means of transport, Tasos Vamboukas, said that almost all the large islands of the Mediterranean, except Crete and Cyprus, have a train, while Corsica has a fixed track medium since the end of the 19th century.

At the same time, he noted that “The airport’s prospects is to transfer up to 18 million passengers annually. How will the passengers and fuel be moved from the port of Heraklion to Kasteli? The proposal includes the inclusion of all the major cities of Crete. Our plan is to go to all the municipal councils of the prefectures of Crete as well as the municipality of Minoa Pediados to promote our request and then address the Greek government”.

Alstom takes interest

Alstom’s warm interest seems to be key to the development of a fixed-track medium on the island of Crete. The French multinational company has openly expressed its interest in the project through Innovation Proposals or the Recovery Fund.

At a conference organized on this topic in Crete last Autumn, the interest of the island’s “bodies” in the creation of a means of fixed orbit that would connect the international airport of Kastelli with the major urban centers of Crete arose.

The construction of the new international airport approximately 40 km from the city of Heraklion and the consequent increase in the number of visitors to the island, had been argued to initially include the railway connection, in addition to VOAK which is in the initial phase of its implementation.