The safety of the Greek railway was at the center of the discussion that the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Mr. Christos Staikouras, had with the political editor of ANT1, Mr. Antonis Seferlis, in the context of 25th Prodexpothe longest-running conference in its field real estate in Greece, taking place today 21 and tomorrow 22 October 2024 at the Athens Concert Hall.

A particularly timely discussion, as it took place shortly after Mr. Staikouras visited the Prosecutor’s Office of the Supreme Court, where he testified supplementary pleading concerning disturbing incidents taking place in the Greek railways.

“These are incidents that harm both the railway and our country. Incidents that raise questions, which must be answered competently” underlined the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport. He emphasized that the government is working methodically and persistently to strengthen the safety of rail transport and upgrade the quality of the services provided, asking the leaderships of OSE and Hellenic Train to take their own initiatives in this direction.

Mr. Staikouras referred to the ministry’s interventions to strengthen security, saying that the tenders for 90 level crossings are already running, with the ministry registering 25 million euros in the state budget for this purpose. “The issue will be resolved in 1.5 years” said Mr. Staikouras, adding that, at the same time, contracts are “running”. 6 million euros for cutting trees along the network.

At the same time, various tenders are underway for the upgrade of the Greek railway, such as the Nea Karvali – Toxotes line, which will connect the railway with the cargo port of Kavala. “Greece has a huge comparative advantage. I believe that the railway should tend towards the transport of goods, connecting our ports with Europe» emphasized the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport.

Beyond the issue of the railway, the discussion also extended to road axes, with Mr. Staikoura characterizing the Attiki Odos as “the most difficult exercise we have done. It has never happened before, to pass from one concessionaire to another on the same day». He emphasized that the price reached 3.27 billion euros, the benefits for public finances from the new concession will exceed 7 billion euros in 25 years, while the immediate benefits for users are the reduction of tolls from 2.80 at 2.50 euros and the provision that the disabled will have free passage through the tolls.

Regarding the Thessaloniki metro, he reiterated that the basic line will be delivered on November 30, while the extension to Kalamaria (with five stations) will be completed at the end of 2025. Asked about line 4 of the Athens metro, Mr. Staikouras estimated that at the end of 2026 the two metropolitan lines will have reached Evangelismos, adding that progress is being made in the construction of stations, but there are also problems. Regarding the new infrastructures of Attica, such as the extensions of the Attica Road, he emphasized that there are too many difficulties in finding additional funding, saying that concessions are a tool that is being considered.

THE Minister of Infrastructure and Transport he also emphasized that 40% of the project has been implemented at the new airport of Heraklion in Kasteli and is expected to be put into operation in 2027. By the beginning of 2025 it is expected that the Heraklion – Chania section of BOAK will be contracted, but also that interventions will begin for the improvement of road safety in the Heraklion – Kissamos section. Finally, regarding the reconstruction of Thessaly, Mr. Staikouras underlined that the permanent interventions will cost the state budget 1.4 billion euros.