Thessaloniki Prepares to Welcome New Metro on November 30

Tour of Agia Sofia metro station, Thessaloniki. Photo source: cstaikouras.gr

Greek Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Transportation Nikos Tachiaos on Tuesday confirmed that the Thessaloniki Metro will begin operations as planned on November 30.

“We are not considering any delay to that date,” the deputy minister said.

In an interview on Greek TV station Action 24, Tachiaos explained that the metro system is undergoing trial runs and certification to ensure all safety requirements are met, providing the people of Thessaloniki with a safe transportation option.

Thessaloniki Metro: Safety Standards Comparable to Copenhagen and Milan

Greek Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Transportation Nikos Tachiaos.

Tachiaos specified that the Thessaloniki Metro will be operated by the French-Italian consortium THEMA, which runs similar metro systems in Copenhagen and Milan.

“They are experienced in safety protocols and will manage an excellent project developed by the AKTOR Webuild Hitachi consortium. The operation and infrastructure of the metro will be certified by TÜV Rheinland, one of the leading certification companies globally,” he added.

According to Tachiaos, the metro will operate at a safety level of 4, meaning it will not have a train driver.

“There will be assistants on the trains to help passengers and, if necessary, guide the train manually to the next station in case of a power outage,” he explained.

Tour of Agia Sofia metro station, Thessaloniki. Photo source: cstaikouras.gr

Deputy Minister Tachiaos noted that 48 metro networks across 40 countries, covering approximately 1,350 kilometers, operate similarly. He also mentioned that the Athens Metro Line 4, currently under development, will employ the same operational model.

Addressing concerns about system reliability, Tachiaos stated that the probability of a software failure is minimal. “It operates on a closed 5G network that directs the trains and has been approved by the Hellenic Telecommunications Committee,” he said.

“The moment the people of Thessaloniki enter the metro stations on November 30, they will realize that their city has been upgraded to a new level,” Tachiaos concluded. “When they disembark, they will feel as if they are in a luxurious living space with glass walls.”