By Nicolas Bard

The Diakopto – Kalavryta railway line, also known as a toothed railway, is a work of the Harilaou Trikoupi period. Its construction began in 1889 and was inaugurated on March 10, 1896, under the Government Theodoros Deligiannis. It was undoubtedly one of the most difficult and magnificent works of the time, both because of its rough territory and the high altitude in which it ended. Even today it is Greece’s most mountainous railway!

So, in order to overcome these difficulties, the railway was manufactured by the technique of toothsis on which the train is hooked, using appropriate gears, on tooth rails on the routes where the slope of the soil exceeds 10%. This picturesque railway crosses the Vouraikos Gorge, passes through many tunnels and bridges, and covers a distance of 22 kilometers. It may be used mainly for a tourist tour today, but when it operated for the first time it radically changed the commute and transportation of goods in the area.

Now, every year on the second Sunday of May, it is organized by the “Mountaineering and Skiing Association”, the “Pan -Hellenic Pass” of the Gorge with the participation of hundreds of climbers and hikers. The route on the tooth is one of the most beautiful and impressive in our country, and justifiably attracts a multitude of people throughout the year, as each season has its own, special beauty.

The toothes from Diakopt enters the Vouraikos Gorge. It takes stops in the sites “Niama” (or “small rich”) and “tricolia”. In the midst of the first and Triklia there used to be, until 1960, a stop at the mile 8+156 (the old Triklia stop). After about 12 kilometers he stops in the village of Kato Zachlorou, while at this point he also serves the visitors of the historic monastery of the Great Cave. Then, after 18 kilometers of route, it stops southeast under the village of Kerpini, in the area of ​​Kerpinis, and finally ends in historic Kalavryta.

The tooth has a range of 750mm line and is one of the narrowest railways in Greece. The reason that was made so close is to use smaller and more flexible wagons for this difficult route, as well as to minimize the cost of technical projects. Today it captivates visitors with its beauty and graphicity, and continues tirelessly the paths in the imposing mountain range of Achaia, giving us a picture of the movements of other times. However, 130 years after its launch it has many serious problems. His camera “where there is Greece in SKAI” was in the area and recorded the concerns of the residents.