Transport Ministry: Greece Prioritizes Railway Infrastructure Projects

Deputy Infrastructure and Transport Minister Nikos Tachiaos.

Deputy Infrastructure and Transport Minister Nikos Tachiaos was in the Peloponnese for inspection visits to several railway projects, including those in Rio and Loutraki.

“The country’s railway network is a priority,” said Tachiaos after visiting the project sites. He added that a lot of work was needed to regain people’s trust in the public railway system. In February last year, 57 people were killed when after a head-on collision of two trains in Tempi, Central Greece.

“We are implementing projects that will bring the train safely to the area of Patra and Loutraki. A lot of work is needed in order to restore confidence in a mode of transport that is an environmentally friendly, fast, and an affordable transport option,” he said, adding that the railway revamp would also contribute to easing traffic in Attica.

Photo source: OSE

Tachiaos also referred to 15 projects that will help restructure the Greek railway system and announced that Railways Greece would be allocating 25 million euros for the renewal and modernization of the Automated Railway Level Crossing System, announced earlier this year by Infrastructure and Transport Minister Christos Staikouras.

The minister went on to underline the importance of the railway connection between the northern Peloponnese and Attica adding that “the line will provide transportation alternatives for residents and would contribute to the development of the areas of the Peloponnese close to Attica.”

In Loutraki, the Deputy Minister oversaw the works along the “Isthmus-Loutraki” section and the connecting link with the high speed at “Acharnon-Kiato“.