Athens, Piraeus to Welcome 25 New Trams

Athens, Greece

Twenty-five new state-of-the-art tram cars are scheduled to operate in Athens and Piraeus in about two years time with plans to extend the network even further, rapid transit company Attiko Metro said this week.

Tram Station at Syntagma square.

Rail transport giant Alstom was named concessionaire for the project, and will in addition to manufacturing and supplying the rail vehicles, provide on-site testing, training and warranty services, as well as spare parts.

The Citadis X05 model – currently used in Avignon, Sydney, Nice, and Paris, is a low-floor tram with double doors for easier accessibility consisting of five wagons and able to transport 294 passengers.

“Following the completion of the competition, Alstom will soon begin the construction of the tram cars that will join the network in two years’ time, Attiko Metro SA Chairman, Yannis Milopoulos told the Athens News Agency, adding that the total cost of the urban transport project is set to reach 50 million euros.

Meanwhile, Milopoulos went on to add that the three consortia passing into the pre-selection phase of a tender to construct the first section of Metro Line 4 will have to submit their bids by December 10, 2018.

“I believe that in the spring we will have chosen the contractor,” he said, of the project budgeted at 1.5 billion euros. Line 4 is estimated at being completed in 2027 should construction begin next year.

Piraeus, Greece. Photo Source: Municipality of Piraeus

According to Attiko Metro SA, the 30-stop (33.5km) line once completed will connect Veikou Park in Galatsi, northeast of Athens with Goudi, Evangelismos Hospital, Faros at Neo Psychiko and Maroussi, with extensions to Vyronas / Ano Ilioupolis, Perissos and towards Petroupoli/national highway.