With absolute certainty of meeting the schedules and the necessary certifications that will ensure its safe and efficient operation Thessaloniki Metro, the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transportresponsible for infrastructure, Nikos Tahiaos, answered a related question in the Parliament, that all the certifications will be ready in time. “Assessing and confirming the safety of the project is not the job of either the deputy minister, the minister, or any political official. They are made and concern both the construction consortium and the project operator, one of the largest certification companies in the world, TUV Rheinland. They are the ones in charge who can really deliver a project that will be flawless both in terms of safety and of course in terms of its operation,” he said characteristically.

Mr. Tachiaos opened his presentation by expressing his personal sadness for the recent loss of Vassos Papandreou, pointing out that she left her mark as a former Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Public Works, in the political scene and in infrastructure, including the Metro of Thessaloniki.

Regarding the subway tests, the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure emphasized that this is a different term from the “test routes”, noting for the former, that they are carried out at exhaustive rates and include both static tests, such as the tests of ticketingof the fee management system in which he also participated, as well as dynamic tests of the systems, in order to ensure their proper operation. He underlined that these tests are necessary to integrate and ensure the reliability of the system and at the same time, he noted that all systems, from station doors and escalators, to elevators and platforms, are currently being tested in order to ensure their full functionality, until the day of the start of commercial operation.

As for test itineraries of the Thessaloniki Metro, said that these will start on November 1st, under the responsibility of the operating company, TEEMA, in collaboration with the Italian Municipal Metro Company, ATM, which has experience from managing the respective systems in Milan and Copenhagen . Mr. Tachiaos then underlined the importance of the CBTC system, which has been used in 48 cities worldwide for the safe and efficient operation of railway networks for the past 40 years and in Thessaloniki since 2006.

In closing, the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure justified the lack of confidence in the Thessaloniki Metro, but, as he said, it will be disproved once the project that tested the endurance of the people of Thessaloniki and the self-confidence of the city is completed.

Finally, he argued that the Thessaloniki Metro is also credited to the previous governments, although addressing the questioning SYRIZA member of parliament he added: “but not to the extent that you stood as a troupe waiting for a stationary wagon to operate”. “What we want to be credited to our own government is the boldness and seriousness with which Kyriakos Mitsotakis faced and will deliver the project. It will be both Metro and ancient”, he continued, making special reference to the Venizelos station, which is characterized as unique worldwide and is testimony to the synthesis of ancient and modern works in a station that will be a unique opportunity for the city.