Thessaloniki Metro: Two contestants to run and maintain the new metro system

Today is the big day for the PPP project concerning the operation and maintenance of the Thessaloniki Metro. A little while ago, the submission of the files of the consortium interested in becoming prospective contractors in this great project was completed.

According to information, the head of the first consortium is ATM, a company that runs the Metro networks in Milan and Copenhagen, and the second consortium is headed by AKTOR CONSESSIONS. The contracting authority is Attiko Metro.

The consortiums that will register their interest are well-known metro system operators. At the same time, today will be submitted to the Parliament for discussion and voting, an amendment that is included in the bill of the Ministry of the Interior entitled “Innovation System in the public sector – Regulations of the General Secretariat of Human Resources of the Public Sector – Regulations for the operation of the OTAs of the first and second degree and of the of decentralized administrations and for the well-being of companion animals – Other urgent arrangements of the Ministry of the Interior”, in order to regulate the operation of the Thessaloniki Metro, immediately after the construction period.

With this amendment, among other things, it is provided (Article 12) the possibility, pursuant to Articles 132 and 156 of Law 4412/2016 (A’ 147), to assign from ATTIKO METRO SA, operation and maintenance services of the Thessaloniki Metro network ( Basic Project and Extension to Kalamaria) to the Contractor of the Basic Project for a period of two (2) years with an option for one (1) more year, immediately after its construction period.

With the conclusion of the relevant supplementary contract, the acceleration of the normal operation of the metro is ensured, since its operation will be carried out for the above transitional period by its manufacturer, for the benefit of the passengers and with positive results for the traffic relief of the center of Thessaloniki and subsequently, the operation and maintenance will be carried out by the contractor of the ongoing tender to appoint a contractor through PPP.

This arrangement seeks to provide a solution to the issue of the immediate operation of the Thessaloniki metro, as it is already a project that has been expected for a long time by the local community of the city to give breathing space to the movement of citizens.

11 years of operation and maintenance

The object of the Contract is the provision of services related to the operation and maintenance of the Thessaloniki Metro network as well as the supply, installation and commissioning of the relevant information system.

After the completion of the process, the tender committee will decide on which consortium will be selected as the contractor and will take over the operation and maintenance of the network. The duration of the contract is set at 132 months, i.e. for a period of 11 years. According to the announcement, no further extension of the contract period is provided.

The total estimated value of the contract including VAT is EUR 362.08 million (without VAT EUR 292 million). The repayment of the project is the sole responsibility of the Contractor, while ATTIKO METRO S.A. has an obligation to pay to the Contractor as a contractual price, 100% of the availability payments from the Public Investment Program of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure.