The procedures for the Metro line 2 extension project to Ilion are in full swing. The project was announced together with the expansion of the Eleonas railway station. Given that the future operation of the extension, as well as the other current needs of HELLENIC METRO SA at the same time makes it necessary to find and build additional depot spaces to serve the trains, the expansion of the Eleonas Depot to a neighboring border area of approximately 20 hectares will occur at the same time.
With the future operation of the extension, it will also become necessary to update/replace certain IT Systems in a large part or even in all of Metro Lines 2 and 3, without which their new expansion will not be possible.
For this reason, the digital data transmission system will be updated or replaced at all stations on Lines 2 and 3.
According to Attiko Metro, modifications to specific systems will require new equipment and software both at the Control Center in Syntagma and locally at stations, wells, etc. Operation of line 2 and 3.
The extension will cover the route after the “Anthoupoli” station to the area of Ilio and Agios Nikolaos and, in the future, to Acharnes and was designed with the aim of:
-Serving many densely populated areas of the western suburbs.
-The future increase in the Metro Lines network with the provision of response to “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 one or two entrances, will be 110m long, will be fully accessible to people with disabilities and will have an approximate depth of -22m to -24m.
The new seasons
“Palatiani” station: It is located at the intersection of Thivon and Andreas Papandreou streets and has two entrances on each side of Thivon street.
“Ilion” Station: It is located at the intersection of Thebes and Elaion streets, has two entrances on both sides of Thebes street and allows connection/transfer of passengers with the homonymous Station of the future Line 4 Extension to Petroupoli.
“Agios Nikolaos” Station: It is located under part of the street with the same name and part of the green landscaped area located between Paramythia, Olynthos, Zitsis and Ag. Nikolaou.
In Palatiani, a transfer station will be built in an area adjacent to the “Palatiani” Station between Andreas Papandreou and Iconio streets with a three-level underground car park with capacity for 150 cars, with direct connection to the Station. On the surface, upon completion of its construction, a Bus Transfer Area will be formed.
It is estimated that this section of Line 2 to the Agios Nikolaos area will 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 jobs served equate to about 5,000.
Budget and construction time
The project budget is estimated at €550 million excluding VAT, but the final estimated contract value will be determined during the second phase of the bidding process.
The total deadline for executing the project is set at 57 months from the date of signing the contract.
Future expansions in Attica and Thessaloniki
The extension of Line 2 south to Glyfada and the extension of the Metro to Kallithea were investigated in a preliminary phase in Attica, ensuring the connection of the SNFCC to the Metro network.
The extension of Line 4 to the west is being studied, from the “Alsos Veikou” station to the Municipality of Petroupoli, which will pass through Nea Ionia and Nea Filadelfia. Likewise, the extension of Line 4 northwards from “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 Road (Varymbobi junction) is being investigated.
In Thessaloniki, the traffic study was completed in the wider urban complex, something that had been done since 2000 in the city. The need and priorities for all public transport modes and their extensions have been documented for the next 20 years, given the much higher construction costs of METRO projects compared to highway projects (ten to twenty times).
Projects that will be carried out in the future can shape new transport conditions and, under certain conditions, lead to a jump in the percentage of Public Transport from the current 15% to 50% in Thessaloniki.
The Metro will run west in two directions, one towards Evosmos and the other towards 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.
Source: AMPE