Thessaloniki Metro Main Line to Open in November

Hellenic Metro SA Managing Director of Nikos Kouretas, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Christos Staikouras and Infrastructure Deputy Minister Nikos Tachiaos. Photo source: Transport Ministry

Commuters in the northern port city of Thessaloniki will be able to take the metro as of November, announced Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during the Transport Ministry’s presentation on Monday of a metro expansion study.

“In six months from now, we will deliver to the citizens of Thessaloniki, but also to visitors the most modern and certainly the most beautiful metro in Europe,” said Mitsotakis, confirming that the 13-station, main line will begin operations in November, and that a second 4.8km, five-stop extension towards Kalamaria would be ready in the second half of 2025.

Mitsotakis went on to add that Thessaloniki’s highly anticipated metro was “finally becoming a reality” after “the city has been greatly tested by expectations and disappointed in the past”.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis speaking in Thessaloniki during an event held by the Transport Ministry. Photo source: Prime Minister Press Office

According to Elliniko Metro SA, once the Kalamaria extension is completed, the Thessaloniki metro will serve some 313,000 commuters daily. Authorities expect the metro to help relieve traffic in the city center with 57,000 fewer vehicles and a significant reduction in CO2 emissions.

According to the study, by 2040, two lines and 44 stations will have been constructed covering the wider Thessaloniki area and handling some 678,000 people.

Also addressing the event, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Christos Staikouras said the Thessaloniki metro was a landmark project and the first part to open in November would serve some 191,000 people a day.

Five of the 13 stations, said Staikouras, are museums. He also referred to the Venizelos stop, which, he said, was unique in that it was the largest archaeological site integrated into a technical project.

In related news, this week Thessaloniki added to its transport options 17 of 110 new electric buses as part of the government’s drive to upgrade transport infrastructure across Greece.