Three new railway projects totaling €1 billion “runs” in Northern Greece the WORKaspiring to make our country a hub in the wider region. This was underlined by the managing director of ERGOSE, Christos Paleos, at the 7th Infrastructure and Transport Conference – ITC 2024, which takes place today 17 and tomorrow 18 September at the Athens Concert Hall – International Conference Center.

“The first is the new railway connection Nea Karvali – Toxoteswith a budget of 192.3 million euros. This is the biggest project of the last decade, of high strategic importance. The competition is on its way to completion and success. Last week the unsealing of the financial offers took place, within the first quarter of 2025 the signing of the contract is expected and the construction period is 3.5 years”, said Mr. Palios. As he explained, the line will connect the railway with the cargo port of Kavala, while it will allow the operation of alternative freight corridors (BBA Corridor – Baltic, Black, Aegean Seas and 3Seas initiative – Baltic, Black, Adriatic, with the extension to the Aegean).

The second project is the upgrading of the existing railway line Alexandroupoli – Ormenio, 176 km long, with a budget of 700 million euros. As Mr. Palios said, the environmental licensing was completed in January, decisions on the expropriations are expected in October, while the country will submit a new file for financing the project from the Connecting Europe Facility 2021-2027 program. “The submission of binding offers and the selection of a contractor is expected within 2025,” noted the managing director of ERGOSE, adding that the line will significantly improve cross-border connections with Bulgaria in Ormenio and with Turkey in Pythia, while it will be able to operate and for suburban service of the areas along the river Evros.

The third project is the development of the West Thessaloniki suburb and the railway connection with the 6th Pier of the Port of Thessaloniki. With a budget of 53.4 million euros, the project has secured funding from the NSRF 2021-2027. According to Mr. Palios, the consultations with the agencies have been completed and the financial offers of the candidates are expected to be submitted within 2025.

At the same time, the managing director of ERGOSE referred to the upgrading of PATHE, which, as he said, is the main goal. “At the moment, projects amounting to 438.5 million euros have been contracted, with which the upgrade of 370 km of lines to a total of 920 km of railway network is completed” he underlined.

Asked about the other interventions planned by ERGOSE, he replied that the second phase of development of the SS is in full progress. of Athens, a project that completes the renovation of the capital’s central railway station and the underground connection with the metro.

Also, the project of undergrounding the railway corridor in Sepolia continues, concerning the construction of a quadruple railway corridor, with a total length of 2.36 km, of which 1.5 km will be fully underground.

Regarding the Athens – Patras railway connection, Mr. Palios pointed out that the electrification installation projects are fully progressing in the 70.6 km section that connects Kiato with Rododafni. Works are also underway on the longest section of Rododafni – Rio, with a total length of 28.8 km, while work will soon restart on a 7 km section, as the problems that had arisen from an earlier contract that was dissolved have been addressed. “The goal is for the train to reach Rio by 2026. At the same time, we should all together find a sustainable solution to reach the center of Patras”, pointed out the managing director of ERGOSE.