[ v t e ] Proastiakos services (December 2010)
Piraeus suburban railway station, June 2007
Legend
Airport Piraeus Koropi Lefka Kantza Rentis Pallini Plakentias Rouf Pentelis Athens Central Kifissias Ag. Anargyroi Nerantziotissa Iraklio Metamorfosi Acharnes (SKA) Ano Liosia Ano Liosia Aspropyrgos Magoula Nea Peramos Megara Kineta Ag. Theodoroi Corinth Kiato
0h 00' Thessaloniki 0h 11' Sindos 0h 21' Adendro 0h 25' Platy 0h 34' Aiginio 0h 44' Korinos 0h 48' Katerini 0h 56' Litochoro 1h 01' Leptokarya 1h 07' Neoi Poroi 1h 14' Rapsani Evangelismos (2010) 1h 33' Larissa

Proastiakós (Greek: Προαστιακός), is the name used for the suburban (commuter rail) services of TrainOSE, servicing Greece's three largest cities: Athens, Thessaloniki and Patras; providing them with modern commuter rail links, towards their suburbs and also towards other cities and towns located around them. The service, operated by TrainOSE uses infrastructure of the Hellenic Railways Organisation (OSE).^[1]

In Athens, the service connects the port of Piraeus and the Athens Central Railway Station with Athens International Airport, while also providing commuter rail links to Kiato, via Corinth. There are plans to extend the "Proastiakos" service to Loutraki and Xylokastro (west of Athens}, Chalkis and Thiva (north of Athens) and to Rafina and Lavrio in southeast Attica.

In Thessaloniki, "Proastiakos" operates two services. The first connects the city's New Railway Station with the city of Larissa and the second connects the city with Edessa.

In July 2010 a new commuter rail service was launched in Patras, connecting the city with Rio. There are plans to extend this service towards Psathopyrgos and Kato Achaia.

History[link]

The concept of a regular and frequent suburban and commuter rail services was introduced in Greece in the 1990's. It became possible due to extra capacity becoming available through improvements to the existing lines and the construction of new ones. In the past suburban services ran on very infrequent timetables and were not very popular.

The construction of a new rail line between central Athens, its eastern suburbs and the new Athens International Airport was decided in 1992-1993. During the construction of Attiki Odos motorway in the late 1990s, space was left between the main carriageways for the railway line and after two years of construction, the line to Athens International Airport opened in 2004. The first suburban services between Athens and the Airport were inaugurated using Stadler GTW and Siemens Desiro DMU trains.

On the 27th of September 2005, the new standard gauge rail line reached Corinth, terminating at a new station, located at Examilia. This line today is served by "Proastiakos" suburban services, while initially "Proastiakos" trains stopped at Nea Peramos, Megara, Kinetta and Agioi Theodoroi. On 18 July 2006 three new stations were added: Ano Liosia, Aspropyrgos and Magoula. On 4 June 2007 the line was extended from Athens to the port of Piraeus with 3 intermediate stations at Lefka, Rentis and Rouf. This extension linked the airport with the port of Piraeus. On the 9th of July 2007, Proastiakos services reached the new station at Kiato.

TrainOSE also runs "Proastiakos" commuter rail services between the cities of Thessaloniki and Larissa, on the modernised and electrified main line. The service initially operated from Thessaloniki to Litochoro in 2007 and was extended to Larissa in 2008.

In 2009 the brand name "Proastiakos" was also used for a short-lived regional service of four trains in each direction per day, connecting the cities of Xanthi, Komotini and Alexandroupolis in the region of Western Thrace.

Current routes[link]

Athens[link]

Piraeus – Athens International Airport[link]

Currently there is no direct passenger service between Piraeus, Athens and Athens International Airport. Passengers to the Airport travel by a local Stadler GTW-2/6 DMU train to Ano Liosia and change there.

Piraeus – Ano Liosia[link]

Passengers from Piraeus and Athens to Corinth, Kiato or to Athens International Airport travel by an hourly local diesel service to the Ano Liosia station and change there. Alternatively they can travel by an ISAP (metro line 1) train to Nerantziotissa station and change to a Proastiakos train there.^[2]

• Piraeus
• Lefka (Proastiakos)
• Rentis
• Rouf
• Athens Central: Connection with Athens Metro Line 2
• Agioi Anargyroi
• Ano Liosia station: Connection to Airport and Kiato services.

Athens International Airport - Kiato[link]

Siemens Desiro EMU on the suburban shuttle service Nerantziotissa-Athens International Airport

This section is electrified and is therefore served by Desiro EMU trains since the 19th of December, 2010. There are three trains per hour in each direction (four during morning and noon rush hours), two between the Airport and Ano Liosia, one between the Airport and Kiato and one between the Airport and Nerantziotissa, that operates only between Monday and Friday during morning and noon rush hours. betw.^[3]

• Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos
• Koropi
• Paiania–Kantza
• Pallini
• Plakentias: Connection with Athens Metro Line 3
• Penteli
• Kifisias
• Nerantziotissa: Connection with ISAP (Metro Line 1).
• Iraklio
• Metamorfosi
• Acharnes (SKA): Connection with mainline and regional rail service of Greece.
• Ano Liosia: Connection with Proastiakos service to Athens Central and Piraeus.
• Aspropyrgos
• Magoula
• Nea Peramos
• Megara
• Kinetta
• Agioi Theodoroi
• Corinth: formerly connection with metre gauge regional rail service to Argos, Tripolis and Nafplion.
• Kiato:^[4] Connection with metre gauge regional rail service to Patras.

Thessaloniki[link]

Thessaloniki - Larissa[link]

Since August 1st, 2009, there are ten commuter/regional trains in each direction daily, connecting the cities of Larissa and Thessaloniki, in 1 hour and 33 minutes. The Siemens Desiro EMU trains call at the following stations: ^[5]

• New Railway Station, Thessaloniki
• Sindos
• Adendro
• Platy: Connection with the regional rail service of Western Macedonia (Veroia, Amyntaio, Florina and Kozani).
• Aeginio
• Korinos
• Katerini
• Litochoro
• Leptokarya
• Neoi Poroi
• Rapsani
• Evaggelismos (not yet in use)
• Larissa: Connection with mainline and regional rail service of Greece.

Thessaloniki - Edessa[link]

This line was a former mainline regional service, which up until early 2011, also served the cities of Kozani and Florina, as part of the regional rail service of Western Macedonia. Following the suspension of the regional rail services, the operational section of the line between Thessaloniki and Edessa, was classified as a Proastikos service from June 11.^[6]

• Thessaloniki New Railway Station
• Sindos
• Adendro
• Platy
• Lianovergi
• Alexandreia
• Loutros
• Kephalochori
• Xekhasmeni
• Kouloura
• Mesi
• Veroia
• Naousa
• Episkopi
• Petria
• Skydra
• Edessa

Patras[link]

Patras - Rio[link]

• Agios Andreas
• Patras (Railway Station), Plateia Trion Simachon
• Plateia Kiprion Agoniston
• Mpozaitika
• Kastelokampos
• Rio
• Agios Vasileios

Former routes[link]

Xanthi-Alexandroupolis[link]

This was actually a regional service of four trains per day in each direction, introduced in September 2009 to increase the density of local passenger services, which up to then were only served by long distance trains. The service was cancelled in February 2010 with the pretext of ongoing engineering work on the section. While the Proastiakos service was active, trains called at the following stations:

• Xanthi
• Polysitos
• Iasmos
• Komotini
• Mesti
• Sykorachi
• Kirki
• Alexandroupoli

Connections[link]

A Proastiakós Stadler GTW-2/6 DMU train in Athens Central Railway Station

The suburban railway connects with the other urban railways of Athens in the following stations:

• Piraeus: The suburban station is located close to the ISAP terminus.
• Athens Central (Larissa Station): connection with Athens Metro line 2.
• Nerantziotissa: Connection with ISAP (Metro Line 1).
• Plakentias: connection with Athens Metro line 3.
• Pallini: shared station with Metro line 3.
• Paiania–Kantza: shared station with Metro line 3.
• Koropi: shared station with Metro line 3.
• Airport: shared station with Metro line 3.

The Proastiakos service towards Kiato also connects to the following long distance and regional rail services:

• Acharnai (SKA): passengers can transfer to the mainline and regional rail service of Greece.
• Corinth: passengers can transfer to the metre gauge rail service to Argos, Tripolis and Nafplion.
• Kiato: passengers can transfer to TrainOSE bus services or to the metre gauge rail service to Patras.

The Proastiakos service towards Larissa also connects to the following long distance and regional rail services:

• Platy: passengers can transfer to the regional rail service of Western Macedonia (towards Verroia, Edessa, Amyntaio, Florina and Kozani).
• Larissa: passengers can transfer to the mainline and regional rail service.

Rolling stock[link]

Proastiakos uses rolling stock owned and maintained by OSE S.A. Currently multiple units are used almost exclusively. Siemens Desiro 5-car electric multiple units (EMU) are used for Ano Liosia-Airport, Airport-Kiato and Thessaloniki-Larisa services, while Stadler GTW-2/6 and MAN-2000 diesel two-car multiple units (DMU-2) are used for the Piraeus-Ano Liosia and Patras-Rio services. As these DMUs have limited passenger carrying capacity, two or three DMUs are coupled together, when rolling stock availability allows it. Thrace services used single MAN-2000 DMU-2 trains.

Fares[link]

Standard tickets (€1,40), valid on all urban buses and trains, are also valid on Proastiakos trains between Piraeus, SKA, Koropi and Magoula. Higher fares apply for travel to the Airport, between Magoula and Kiato; and between Thessaloniki and Larisa. A one-way ticket from Piraeus or Athens to the Airport costs €8 and a return ticket €14.

Tickets must be validated on special ticket validation machines on the platform, before boarding the train. Return tickets must be re-validated before boarding a return train. There are no ticket validation machines on the trains.

Planned routes and stations[link]

Addition of new routes and stations to Proastiakos services depends on the progress of a number of OSE infrastructure projects in Attica. The most important projects are:

• Construction of a three or four track line between Rouf and SKA stations.
• Electrification of lines between Piraeus and SKA.
• Installation of signalling on lines between Piraeus and SKA.
• Construction of ten passenger platforms and one "through track" at Athens Central station.
• Construction of new stations at Tavros, Pyrgos Vasilissis, Lykotrypa and Zevgolatio.

As of April 2011, introduction of new and more frequent services is mainly hidered by limited line capacity between Rouf and SKA; and limited availability of diesel rolling stock for the non-electrified line.

Section: Piraeus – S.K.A.[link]

A number of new stations and halts are under construction on this line and they shall be served by Proastiakos trains:

• Tavros
• Athens (Athens Central Railway Station): The station is extended with new platforms to serve future suburban services.
• Agioi Anargyroi: New four platform station served by mainline and suburban trains, plus a freight siding. The fast line platforms are already operational and are served by Proastiakos and Athens-Chalkis trains. The slow lines are under construction.
• Pyrgos Vasilissis: Shall open after the slow lines between Agioi Anargyroi and SKA are operational.
• Lykotrypa: Shall open after the slow lines between Agioi Anargyroi and SKA are operational.
• Acharnai Railway Center (SKA): The station is partly open since 2011-04-05, extensive work is still required to finish the first phase of the complex.

Section: SKA – Athens International Airport / Rafina / Lavrio[link]

Future services to Rafina and Lavrion shall be on new lines, currently under consideration. The line to Rafina shall branch off after Plakentias station. The extension to Lavrio shall branch off at Koropi station.

Section: SKA – Corinth / Kiato / Xylokastro / Loutraki[link]

The existing line to Kiato is being extended to Xylokastro, which shall be the final destination of suburban trains. A branch line to Loutraki is under consideration but is delayed due to reactions by the local authority.

• Zefyri: A new station planned to serve a future sports center, if built in the area.
• Zevgolatio: new station between Corinth and Kiato is finished and shall open soon.
• Xylokastro: Extension to Xylokastro is under construction.

• Loutraki branch (under consideration):
  • Isthmos
  • Loutraki

See also[link]

• Athens Mass Transit System
• Hellenic Railways Organisation

References[link]

Further reading[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Greek Suburban Railway

• TrainOSE S.A.
• Hellenic Railways Organisation (OSE)
• Athens Urban Transport Organisation (OASA)