Tenders for new railway projects to reach 471mio euros in 2018

Railway projects in Greece of 2018 and the future seem to have a great momentum, as the new era demands the use of fixed-rail means of transport both for intercity and suburban routes. Through NSRF 2014-2020, there is a fairly large range of projects, that mainly complement past projects, while there are provisions for the expansion of the  network’s electrification beyond PATHeP. Of course, the fact that pending rail projects in the country are still many, also helps.

Currently, several projects are in the queue with their tenders being very close. These projects concern mainly the regions of Peloponnese, Thessaly and Athens. Their cost is estimated at 341mio euros they are expected to enter their implementation stage during the year. The electrification of Kiato-Rododafni section will be auctioned tomorrow, February 9th, at a cost of 83mio euros. The tender for the electrification of Paleoparsalos-Kalambaka section is also about to be announced. This project is also funded by NSRF (Thessaly’s OP) with 47mio euros.

Another “mature” for auctioning project in March, that will be implemented with resources from Public Investments Program, is the electrification of Corinth-Loutraki section, one of the abandoned projects that have been announced for more than a 10 years now. Its construction will allow the use of electric trains on the short 5 km long route. When completed, the line will have 3 stations: Isthmos, Casino and Loutraki.

Along with these first projects, in Spring we expect the auction for the electrification of Larissa-Volos section, which includes the bypass of Nea Ionia area and the connection to Volos Port. The project has secured funding of 60mio eurosfrom NSRF 2014-2020.

Construction works for the second phase of Athens Central Railway Station upgrade is also very close to its auctioning. The Ministry of Economy and Development is about has already issued a call for tender with “sweep” contract that includes all never-ending works of the past, among which the direct underground connection of the railway station to the adjacent metro station. The project will be funded by NSRF with 41mio euros.

Towards the end of 2018, we expect an important contract for superstructure, electrification, signaling systems and stations for the section Eghio (Rododafni)-Patsopirgos. Once again, the funding of the project will be covered by NSRF 2014-2020 with 95mio euros. During the 9th Conference for the  Regional Development Stategies in Western Greece, a double-track electrified line between Rio and Aghios Dionysios in Patras, with 130mio euros was also announced to be tendered in 2018.

It is reminded that the contract for Sepolia Tunnel, in Athens, has already been signed for 109mio euros, awarded to INTRAKAT. This project concerns the undergrounding of the existing railway lines, in the section between Athens Central Railway Station and “3 Bridges”, on the borders of Athens municipality.

Nikos Karagiannis-ypodomes.com

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