New Athens-Thessaloniki Super Train Hits the Tracks

Train operator Trainose recently presented its new high-speed passenger train, the “Silver Arrow” – to run the Athens-Thessaloniki route in less than four hours – during the 83rd Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) currently running in the northern port city.

Alternate Transport Minister Nikos Mavraganis and government officials had the chance to travel on the 480-seat ETR 485 manufactured by Alstom Ferroviaria (formerly FIAT Ferroviaria) which can reach speeds of up to 250km/hr.

Minister Mavraganis referred to the importance of the new railway service which ensures fast transport in safety and comfort.

Greece’s national passenger and freight train operator Trainose is owned by Italian state railway group Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) Italiane.

“I welcome you onboard the Silver Arrow on which we will travel into the new era of Trainose… With the Silver Arrow we are upgrading services, creating experiences, offering quality in transport, making it both faster and more competitive,” said Trainose CEO Filippos Tsalidis.

FS aims to run the Athens-Thessaloniki route in less than 3.5 hours once the European Train Control System (ETCS) is tested in 2019. The journey from Athens to Thessaloniki currently lasts four hours.

Meanwhile, FS has announced 500 million euros in investments in rolling stock on the Athens-Thessaloniki line aiming to make it a competitive transportation option between the two Greek cities.