Thessaloniki Metro

Thessaloniki Metro (Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης) is an under construction underground rapid transit system for Thessaloniki, Greece.

The project
The construction of the much awaited Thessaloniki metro started in June 2006 and should be completed by late 2012. Although first conceived and planned in the 1980s, it took almost 20 years before grounbreaking work started. This was due to a series of failed contract competitions and several appeals to awarded contracts. The first phase of the project consists of 9.6 km of underground line (with twin tunnels) with 13 stations, and a depot at the east end of the line. The budget of the project is about 1.1 billion euro. Part of the budget (€250 million) is funded from the 3rd CSF and a loan for €250 million has been arranged with the European Investment Bank.

Phase Two of the project was approved to begin construction prior to the operation of the base project, and in May 2009 Attiko Metro put to tender the construction of the extension to Kalamaria. Attiko Metro claims this will prevent construction on the transfer stations from interrupting the base line operation.

Thessaloniki's metro will be similar to the Copenhagen Metro or London's Docklands Light Railway. It will feature 18 driver-less trains that will run in separate tunnels in each direction. There will also be glass walls with automatic doors on the edge of platforms, in every station, for added safety. The project is being constructed by a Greek-Italian consortium and overseen by Attiko Metro, the company that manages the Athens Metro.

Phase 1 (under construction)

 * Neos Sidirodromikos Stathmos (Railway Station: OSE)
 * Dimokratias
 * Venizelou
 * Agia Sofia
 * Syntrivani
 * Panepistimio (University)
 * Papafi
 * Efklidi
 * Fleming
 * Analipseos
 * Patrikiou
 * Voulgari
 * Nea Elvetia

Extensions
Construction of the extensions to Kalamaria (to the southeast) and to Stavroupoli (to the north) shall begin before completion of the basic Railway Station-Nea Elvetia line. The projected completion dates are 2014 and 2015 respectively.

The fisrt stage of the call for tenders for the Kalamaria extension with a budget of €400 millions, funded in part through the 4th CSF, closed on July 10, 2009. The extension to Stavroupoli is in the basic design stage. Further extensions to Kordelio (to the northwest) and to the airport (to the southeast) are under consideration.

Phase 2

 * Kalamaria branch (branches off after Patrikiou station)
 * Nomarchia (Prefecture)
 * Kalamaria
 * Aretsou
 * Nea Krini
 * Mikra
 * Stavroupoli branch (branches off at Dimokratias station)
 * Neapoli
 * Pavlou Mela
 * Stavroupoli
 * Polichni
 * Nikopoli

Park and ride
Several park and ride facilities are planned to facilitate the large number of vehicular commuters in the city. These include two facilities at the New Railway Station with four basement levels of 450 and 600 parking spaces, 650 spaces in a three story garage at the Nea Elvetia station, and two 1,000 space garages consisting of four basement levels each for a total of 3,700 park and ride spaces in total.