In the ongoing works of the new Line 4 of the Metro (‘Alsos Veikou-Goudis) and specifically in the wells on Veikou Avenue and in Katehaki, APE-MPE was found, where the “Metropontic” twins “Athina” and “Niki” take over the difficult task of tunneling.

The two “Metropontian” TBMs will open a total of 12.8 kilometers of underground tunnels. The new Line 4, specifically section A, ‘Alsos Veikou-Goudis, will include 15 new stations, which will be built mainly underground.

With the help of the Attiko Metro Line 4 project manager, Sissis Voutyritsa, APE-MPE toured the well located on Veikou Avenue in Galatsi, at the height of the Olympic Properties where a large trench is being constructed for Line 4. The trench is approximately 216 meters long, 32 meters wide and 32 meters deep. From this trench, the excavation of the second metropontic of the line named “Niki” will begin, which will travel 7.2 kilometers from here to the Evangelismos branching well from where it will exit. There he will meet the other metropolitan, named “Athina”, who has started from Katehaki and he will also leave from the same point”, says Mrs. Voutyritsa.

It is noted that the completion of the arrival of the metropontic “Niki” from Germany to Greece was completed at the beginning of August, while these days the metropontic is being assembled, assembled and will be lowered to start its opening, early next year.

According to its director, the project will have three functions. The first will be the installation, operation and support of the second metropontic of the project, “Niki”. Its second function is the well itself, as it will be used in the future as a place to deposit trains. A small depot that is, for minor maintenance and cleaning of the trains of Line 4 of section A of the 15 stations. Its third function concerns the construction of a 250-meter tunnel to Maroussi in order to use this tunnel for the future extension of the Line that will end (D section) in Petroupoli (another 6 stations and 7.5 kilometers of tunnel).”

So after many years of waiting, the construction of Line 4 of the Athens Metro has begun, with the aim of serving densely populated areas such as Kypseli, Exarchia and Kolonaki, as well as serving many important buildings and facilities, such as hospitals, educational institutions. It will also contribute to increasing the networking of the existing Metro Lines with two connecting stations (University/Academy, Evangelismos).

The project will consist of the following 15 modern underground stations, which will operate without a driver: Veikou Park, Galatsi, Helicon, Cell, Courts, Alexandra, Expiration, Academy, Kolonaki, Annunciation, Caesariani, Campus, Ilisia, Zografou and Mortaras well as nine intermediate and/or terminal wells.

And while the metropontic “Niki” is “preparing its machines” for the new year, the other metropontic “Athina” in the well in Katehaki, has already “set forward” as it is currently assembled and is in the final phase of the partial assembly for the seamless excavation of the tunnel up to the Evangelismos branching well where the end of the project for this particular machine is.

The APE-MPE was lowered 40 meters below the surface of the earth and was guided inside the subway, with the help of Stamatis Nikolopoulos, TBM supervision engineer of the Hellenic Metro Line 4 project management. “We are at the TBM Katehaki well construction site and behind me you see TBM Athina, one of the two machines that will make the opening of the tunnels of Line 4, the other machine named Niki, will start from the Veikou well at the western end of line. Athena, our machine here will dig 5.2 kilometers, while the Niki machine will dig 7.2 kilometers.”

The engineer supervising the project notes to APE-MPE: “The project is difficult. Starting it alone was a big problem, but we overcame any difficulties. We hope that with the selection of these two twin machines, there will be no problems during the excavation.”

Alongside the rest of the work, the works are continuing at the “Galatsi”, “Elikonos”, “Kypseli”, “Exarchia”, “Caesariani”, “Panepistimioupoli” and “Zografou” Stations, while archaeological exploratory sections have begun at the Dikladosis Well, which is located in the Naiadon park near the “Evangelismos” Station.