Covid-19: New Guidelines for Greece’s Public Transport

A set of new regulations to cover public and private means of mass transport was announced this week by the Transport Ministry as part of precautionary actions taken to contain the spread of the coronavirus in Greece.

Deputy Public Transport Minister Yiannis Kefalogiannis announced supplementary rules which apply to all modes of public mass transport, including city buses, trolleybuses, trams, passenger trains, rapid transit (metro) and ferries through to 30 May 2020. According to the measures, the permissible transport capacity has been set at 50 percent of the total.

Other regulations allow one passenger per vehicle (taxi cabs or private use cars) of up to five seats, allowing a second passenger only in cases of transport for medical purposes such as transfer to a hospital or medical center.

Two (2) passenger are allowed in public or private vehicles with six or seven seats, and three in eight or nine-seater vehicles. An additional person is allowed in cases of parents accompanying minors.

Tour buses

The minister also signed a directive allowing companies operating special purpose vehicles for public transport including coaches or open-air tour buses to temporarily submit their registration and license plates thus relieving them of relevant fees through to 31 May 2020.