Thessaloniki Metro: planning for new extensions towards the western suburbs & the Airport are underway

The operation of the Thessaloniki Metro is planned for the first half of 2024, as stated by the Minister of State during his visit to Thessaloniki , responsible for infrastructure and transport issues, Giorgos Gerapetritis, while extensions are planned both westwards and towards “Makedonia” Thessaloniki Airport.

Although the never-ending works of the main line and the extension to Kalamaria are on their final stretch, it will take a wait of about a year to see it enter commercial operation and end an 18-year streak.

Interest now turns to the next day of the city’s Metro system. For the Thessaloniki Metro, the two main extensions, to the west and to the airport, are the natural progression for its development beyond the center.

Western expansion

For the extension to the west of approximately 11 kilometers, Attiko Metro has already signed a preliminary works contract with AKTOR. It will cover crowded areas. The object of this competition, which was launched in 2019, is the preparation of the required studies, the execution of the archaeological works, the exploratory works of the public utility networks, the works of traffic bypasses and other required works, in the areas of the north-west extension of the Thessaloniki Metro , as well as in the expansion area of the Pylaia depot.

The duration of the works has been set at 24 months and the goal is that when the tender for the implementation of the extension starts, it can run free of works that, at least in the baseline, cost a lot of time and money. Funding for this expansion has not been secured at this time.

It should be noted that in the form it exists today, the extension to the west forms a circle with the beginning and end of the New Railway Station. The stations that are planned are:

1. Eptalofos (Eptalofos Square, El. Venizelou and Chalkidis, Ampelokipoi)
2. Menemeni (Dendropotamos and Aristotelous/Eleftheriou Venizelou, Menemeni)
3. Kordelio (28th of October and Karaoli-Dimitriou, Asteras Evosmos Agricultural Field)
4. Evosmos (Traffic Training Park, Pefko, Protomayia, Apostolou and Glinou)
5. Ilioupoli (Themistokleous and Augeri and A’Parodos of Glinou and 9th of May, Internal Regional, Ilioupoli)
6. Stavroupoli (Lagada and Lykourgou, Thessaloniki Psychiatric Hospital)
7. Polichni (Davaki Street, S.O.A., Pavlou Mela Camp or with alternative location Lagadas and Davaki)
8. Neapoli (Roumanikon Park, Neapoli)

The extension to the airport

Here we are at a different stage for the extension from Mikra station to Macedonia Airport in Thessaloniki. Topographic studies have started for the project (the tender started in 2019) and geotechnical and geological surveys will follow. The project of the extension to the airport has been included in the proposals of the Ministry of infrastructure for the new NSRF 2021-2027 in order to mature and be able to be tendered.

This extension will differ as in all probability the solution is advanced after the Mikra station Little by little the lines will go up, they will reach the surface and then through a bridge, it will terminate in “Macedonia”. The stations planned for this extension are: SCHOLI POLEMOU, DIAVALKANIKO, GEORGIKI SCHOLI and MACEDONIA AIRPORT. In total, the extension will be 5.5 kilometers long.

In the case of the above-ground line, the problems of an underground project are avoided (existence of archaeological, underground streams, geological or other issues) as are the expropriations of an above-ground project (i.e. on the surface of the road where many millions would be required for a double line with a large width which except of the others would require many and expensive accompanying works such as leveling at intersections with road arteries).