At the 7th Infrastructure and Transport Conference – ITC, Konstantinos Magoulas, Secretary General for Infrastructure, spoke about the axes of the strategic restructuring and development of the Greek railway, which includes projects worth 12 billion euros over a 20-year horizon, including the restoration of the Thessaly railway network 2024, which takes place at the Athens Concert Hall.
Nikolaos Kouretas, General Director of Elliniko Metro SA, Christos Palios, General Director of ERGOSE, Dimitris Katsochis, Senior Manager, Head of Transportation also participated in the session on fixed-track means and metro and rail development in Greece and Urban Planning of the Planet, and Yiannis Valavanis, Director of Metro and Rail Projects at Hill International.
Specifically, as Mr Magoulas mentioned, with regard to projects, in the next two years those included in the Recovery Fund and the national budget, with the prospect of inclusion in the QREN 2021-2027 and with a budget of 450 million euros, will continue.
The short-term plan of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport has a budget of €700 million and includes projects that have already received funding. The five-year plan includes projects with a budget of €2 billion, most of which have secured funding.
Four pillars
“The ministry’s plan was drawn up based on four pillars: the completion of the double railway line, which will connect us to the whole of Europe, the connection to cross-border points – Idomeni, Promachona and Ormenio -, the connection with ports, cargo hubs and industrial areas, as well as the development of suburban passenger transport and the development of the railway network in areas that are not included in the central axes, such as the Peloponnese and Western Macedonia regions,” concluded the Secretary General for Infrastructure.
Single operator
Mr Magoulas also referred to the new single body that will take over the operation of the Greek railway network, under the name of Greek Railways. It will unite OSE, TRAINOSE and the GAIAOSE department responsible for the management of railway equipment.
According to him, the project has been included for financing in the Recovery Fund, with a deadline of late 2025. “By the end of 2024 we have an obligation to present the implementation plan, which has been discussed. It is also expected that by the end of 2024 the legislation regarding the transformation will have been approved, and the announcement for the hiring of a technical management consultant is awaited”, he said, stressing that the new body will be strengthened in terms of personnel and knowledge. By mid-2025, the ministry will present the new strategic plan for the new company, and then the new contract with the State and the new organization regarding the obligations it will assume should be signed.
WORKED
For his part, Christos Palios, CEO of ERGOSE, stated that the company is “managing” three new railway projects, totaling one billion euros, in Northern Greece (Nea Karvali – Toxotes 192.3 million euros, Alexandroupoli – Ormenio 700 million euros and the Western suburban area of Thessaloniki and rail connection with the 6th Pier of Thessaloniki 53.4 million euros).
At the same time, the CEO of ERGOSE referred to the requalification of PATHE, where projects worth 438.5 million euros have been contracted. In addition, the second phase of development of the SS is in full swing. Athens and underground work on the Sepolia railway corridor is continuing.