In a recent agreement in Rome between Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a total of twenty-three trains will be secured, comprising fifteen suburban trains and eight intercity express trains. This initiative aims to enhance the railway infrastructure, a longstanding priority for the Greek government, especially following the Tempi tragedy.
Additionally, the agreement includes upgrades to depots and modifications to a contract established during Kostas Karamanlis‘s time as Minister of Infrastructure and Transport. This contract faced harsh criticism for lowering investment expectations for the Italian firm without ensuring new rolling stock, which has led to the decline of the Greek railway system, despite the parent company operating some of Europe’s most advanced trains.
The so-called “modern” trains provided by the Italians have proven to be second-hand models from 1995, leading to frequent malfunctions, with Deputy Transport Minister Konstantinos Kyranakis noting an average of 1.7 breakdowns per day. The suburban railway’s condition is particularly dire, facing the risk of operating without any trains.
The government asserts that the new contract will incorporate “clauses and timetables” for enforceability, a commitment that was part of the previous agreement but remains unfulfilled. Furthermore, significant debts between OSE and Hellenic Train have been a recurring issue.
As per the announcement, this deal is valued at 360 million and will proceed once the Greek government invests over 450 million to rehabilitate railway projects in Thessaly and Central Greece following the Daniel and Elias disasters. This funding will support infrastructure improvements and the development of safety systems, with projects set to begin immediately.
Initiatives include the installation of the European Train Control System (ETCS) for automatic train braking, which the ministry states will be operational within the next two months. Additionally, the underground section of the line in Sepolia, initially scheduled for completion last year, has now been postponed until 2028.
Renovation projects at stations in Athens and Thessaloniki, as well as enhancements to the suburban railway, are also part of this plan.
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