The procedures for the extension project of Metro line 2 to Ilion are in full progress.

The project was announced together with the expansion of the Eleonas train station. Given that the future operation of the extension, as well as the other current needs of HELLENIC METRO S.A. at the same time make it necessary to find and build additional depot spaces to serve the trains, the expansion of the Eleonas Depot to a neighboring bordering area of ​​approximately 20 acres will proceed at the same time.

With the future operation of the extension, it also becomes necessary to upgrade/replace certain IT Systems in a large part or even in all of Lines 2 & 3 of the Metro, without which their further extension will not be possible.

For this reason, the digital data transmission system will be upgraded or replaced in all the stations of Lines 2 & 3.

According to Attiko Metro, the modifications to the specific systems will require new equipment and software both at the Control Center in Syntagma and locally at stations, shafts, etc. However, their connection to the current systems is planned to be made without any disruption to the Lines 2 and 3.

The extension will concern the route after “Anthoupoli” Station to the area of ​​Ilio and Agios Nikolaos and further in the future to Acharnes and has been designed with the aim of:

  • Serving many densely populated areas of the western suburbs.
  • The future increase of the Metro Lines network with the provision of a connection to the “Ilion” Station with the future extension of Line 4 to Petroupoli.

The extension of line 2 will have a total length of approximately 4 km with three new Stations and their respective Ventilation Shafts. The Stations, which will all have side docks and have one or two entrances, will be 110m long, fully accessible to people with disabilities and will range from approximately -22m to -24m in depth.

The new stations will be as follows:

  • “Palatiani” station: It is located at the intersection of Thivon and Andreas Papandreou streets and has two entrances on either side of Thivon street.
  • “Ilion” Station: It is located at the intersection of Thebes and Elaion streets, it has two entrances on both sides of Thebes street and provision for connecting/transferring passengers with the Station of the same name of the future Extension of Line 4 to Petroupoli.
  • “Agios Nikolaos” station: It is located under part of the street of the same name and part of the landscaped green area located between Paramythia, Olynthos, Zitsis and Ag. Nikolaou.

In Palatiani, a transfer station will also be built in an adjacent area adjacent to the “Palatiani” Station between Andreas Papandreou and Iconio streets with a three-level underground car park with a capacity of 150 cars, with a direct connection to the Station. On the surface, after the completion of its construction, a Bus Transfer Area will be formed.

This section of Line 2 up to the area of ​​Agios Nikolaos is estimated to serve at least 67,000 passengers daily, while the number of residents of the area who will be served by the 3 new stations within a radius of 500 meters from their residence is estimated at approximately 42,000 and the equivalent serviced jobs to about 5,000.

Budget and construction time

The project budget is estimated at 550 million euros excluding VAT, but the final estimated value of the contract will be determined during the second stage of the bidding process.

The total deadline for the execution of the project is set at 57 months from the day the contract is signed.

Future expansions in Attica and Thessaloniki

It has been investigated at a preliminary stage in Attica the extension of Line 2 south to Glyfada and the extension of the Metro to Kallithea, ensuring the connection of the SNFCC with the Metro network.

The extension of Line 4 to the west, from the “Alsos Veikou” station to the Municipality of Petroupoli, is being studied, which will pass through Nea Ionia and Nea Filadelfia. Likewise, the Extension of Line 4 north, from the “Katehaki” station to Marousi, Pefki and Lykovrysi.

At the same time, the underground Extension of Line 1 to the north, from the “Kifisia” station, towards N. Erythraia and the National Highway (Varymbobi junction) is being investigated.

At Thessaloniki the traffic study in the wider urban complex was completed, something that had been done since 2000 in the city. The necessity and priorities of all means of public transport and their extensions were documented for the next 20 years, given the much higher construction costs of METRO projects compared to road projects (ten to twenty times).

The projects that are going to be done in the future may shape new transportation conditions and, under certain conditions, lead to a jump in the percentage of Public Transportation from 15% today to 50% in Thessaloniki.

The Metro will be developed westwards in two directions, one towards Evosmos and the other towards the Papanikolaou Hospital. At the same time, it will also be extended towards the airport, joining the main line with the Mediterranean Cosmos, the Trans-Balkaniko, the Agricultural School and the airport.