Greek Railways: Four New Projects Approved for EU Funding

Greek Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Christos Staikouras.

Four new railway projects in Greece have been approved for funding by the EU Cohesion Fund’s Connecting Europe Facility II (CEF II), announced Greek Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Christos Staikouras on Tuesday.

According to Staikouras, Greece is advancing in the development and upgrade of its rail network, following a comprehensive investment plan aimed at creating sustainable and resilient infrastructure.

As part of this strategy, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport has secured 518,865,020 euros in EU funding, which, combined with national funds, will be allocated to railway projects scheduled over the next four years.

The approved funding will be allocated to projects along the primary railway line connecting Patras – Athens – Thessaloniki – Idomeni/Promahonas, focusing on the following specific areas:

– Upgrading the railway line between Thessaloniki and Promahonas, particularly from Mouries to Promahonas, funded with 112,075,200 euros.
– Upgrading the railway line between SKA (Acharnes Railway Center) and Oinoi, funded with 192,142,704 euros.
– Upgrading the railway line between Pythio – Ormenio (ERGOSE), funded with 186,667,916.75 euros.
– Installing a new signaling and telemanagement system (ETCS L1) on the railway line between SKA and Kiato, funded with 27,979,200 euros.

Menemeni machinery station, Thessaloniki. Photo source: Hellenic Trains

“With the approval of funding for these four railway projects, the Greek government aims to address longstanding issues within the railway network, marking the beginning of a 20-year investment plan,” stated Minister Staikouras.

In addition to carrying out projects focused on “Upgrading-Safety-Development”, Minister Staikouras announced plans to complete the connection between Alexandroupolis and Ormenio. The initiative will link strategically positioned ports in Greece with the Patras-Athens-Promahonas rail line, and is currently in the processing stage.

“We plan to apply for new funds in 2025, complemented by national investment, to develop rail lines through 2030. This initiative aligns with the EU Trans European Transportation Network development program under EU regulation 2024/1679,” the minister explained.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport emphasized its focus on enhancing railway infrastructure connectivity with Bulgaria and creating a multimodal transportation corridor spanning Central Europe, the Baltic states, and Ukraine.