A reverse countdown is underway for the debut of Thessaloniki’s long-awaited metro line next month, a project “on the horizon”, on the drawing boards and in the construction phase for decades.
The now decisive date is Nov. 30, next month, with residents and visitors to the northern Greece metropolis finally acquiring a fixed rail line – underground in this case.
Thessaloniki’s 9.6-kilometer single-line, twin-direction metro system is expected to transport 254,000 commuters on a daily basis. Along with the fixed rail line, 13 stations, an operations control center, a repair base, and a main train depot are completed.
According to the state-run management of the new transit system, tests are ongoing on the underground line and stations on a 24/7 basis.
The initial operation phase envisions trains arriving at stations every 2.5 minutes, with the entire journey from station one to station 13 – including stops – being 17 minutes in the future.
An extension, beyond 9.6 kilometers, is already under construction to reach the east Thessaloniki district of Kalamaria, and possibly thereafter to the Makedonia International Airport further east.
Archaeological discoveries
As mostly anticipated before subterranean boring and station construction began, numerous archaeological finds of different historical periods of the ancient city were uncovered, especially at the Venizelos and Aghia Sofia stations.
In fact, some of the finds were characterized as significant and revealing.
Stunningly, some 300,000 ancient, medieval and Ottoman-era artifacts and objects were recovered, a portion of which will be displayed at two under-construction museums, one at the crossover foyer at the Sintrivani station. and the other at the metropolitan part Pavlos Melas.
