Notabilia

Transportation

1834

In 1834, Athens [Place Names] becomes the capital of the Greek state and in 1835 the first unsuccessful proposition is submitted to the Greek government regarding the construction of a railway. In 1843 the same proposition was brought forward, but once again it was rejected.

In 1855 the first Bill is passed for the construction of the Athens-Piraeus railways. In November 1867, the construction begins. In 1868, the Société Anonyme of the "Railway from Athens to Piraeus" (S.A.P. S.A.) {Απ' Αθηνών εις Πειραιάν Σιδηροδρόμου (Σ.Α.Π. Α.Ε.)} is established. The project was completed on February 17th, 1869, and the inauguration ceremony took place on February 27th, 1869. The steam-driven train, with 10 cars, covered a distance of 5 miles, from Thision {Θησείον} to Piraeus {Πειραιεύς}, in approximately 19 minutes.

From 1869, until September 16th, 1904, when the railway was electrified, took place the laying of the tracks of a double line, and in 1889, the beginning of the works for the construction of a tunnel, from Thision to Omonia {Ομόνοια} Square (Likourgou {Λυκούργου} and Athinas {Αθηνάς} Streets).

The old Omonia station, which was inaugaurated on May 17th, 1895, is found next to the old city hall, at the junction of Athinas [Contents] and Likourgou Streets. The train arrived to that point, through the new underground tunnel which run under Athinas Street and ended up in an open pit. Perhaps this is the reason why the side-walk at this location, even up to this day, is quite wide. There had also been talks about the construction of a central station at the junction of Athinas and Ermou {Ερμού} Streets, in the Mega Monastirion (Monastiraki) {Μέγα Μοναστήριον (Μοναστηράκι)} [Place Names], the then Criminal Court, the Kodjia {Κοτζιά} Square and the Boukouras {Μπούκουρας} theater on Menandrou {Μενάνδρου} Street.

In 1926, the S.A.P., which operated the Thision-Piraeus line, the ATTICA RAILWAYS {Σιδηρόδρομοι Αττικής}, which operated the "Therion" {Θηρίον} of Kifisia {Κηφισιά} [Contents] and the ATHENS-PIRAEUS TRAMWAYS {Τροχιόδρομοι Αθηνών-Πειραιώς}, which operated the trams, established cooperation with the English trust Power and Traction Finance Company (known simply as POWER).

Two companies sprang out of this cooperation: I.E.M. (Electric Transportation Company) {Η.Ε.Μ. (Ηλεκτρική Εταιρεία Μεταφορών)} which operated the trams and the line of Kifisia, and E.I.S. (Hellenic Electric Railways) {Ε.Η.Σ. (Ελληνικοί Ηλεκτρικοί Σιδηρόδρομοι)}, which took on the duties of the ex S.A.P. and at the same time, the commitment to improve the existing line and extend the underground tunnel up to Attiki {Αττική} [Place Names] station with a double line, so that the electric railways be joined with Kifisia with an underground station in Omonia Square.

The works began in January 1928, a year which was marked by the inauguration of the new building of S.A.P. in Piraeus [The Station], which is somewhat reminiscent of the architectural style of the Eiffel Tower.

On July 21st, 1930, the new underground station in Omonia [The Square] was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos {Ελευθέριος Βενιζέλος} [People].

In 1937, I.E.M. undertook the electrification of the Kifisia railway and in 1938 the "Therion" was put out of service, so that I.E.M. could carry out the project.

In 1948 and in 1949, Victoria {Βικτώρια} and Attiki stations were inaugurated.

In 1950, the completion of the electrification project and the operation of the Athens-Kifisia railway is transferred from I.E.M. to E.I.S. The E.I.S. continue with the works which culminate in 1957, with the operation of the Kifisia station. This was preceded by numerous extensions of the line to the Ano Patisia/Agia Varvara {Άνω Πατήσια/Αγία Βαρβάρα} [The Station], Nea Ionia {Νέα Ιωνία} and Neo Iraklio {Νέο Ηράκλειο} stations.

On January 1st, 1976, the ownership of E.I.S. was transferred to the Greek State, renamed to I.S.A.P. (Athens-Piraeus Electric Railways) {Η.Σ.Α.Π. (Ηλεκτρικοί Σιδηρόδρομοι Αθηνών Πειραιώς}), and the stations Irini {Ειρήνη}, Tavros {Ταύρος} and K.A.T. {Κ.Α.Τ.} were constructed during the coming years.

Sources: I.S.A.P ~ Eleftherotipia {Ελευθεροτυπία} Newspaper. Featured Article: The History Of The Railway, Saturday, July 3rd, 1999.

11-29-2003