Notabilia

Transportation

The Tram Returns To Patission Street

According to recent announcements, an approximately 36 miles network will have been created by the year 2008, which will include the axis of Patision {Πατησίων} Street. Of course this is not new. This project has been announced by the long-time now deceased ex Athens Mayor, Andonios Tritsis {Αντώνιος Τρίτσης}, only that this time everything indicates that the government is in earnest. The first train has already arrived to Greece from Italy and soon the construction of the railway will begin.

Athens 2010: The tram lines meander in the Attica basin, almost from one side to the other. Suburbs from which the tram lines had been removed almost half a century ago, are interspersed once again with tram stops and the residents enjoy a comfortable and noiseless transport using the air-conditioned trams. In the meantime, most privately owned vehicles stay parked, waiting patiently for the weekend to come, so that they can hit the road.

If you could imagine something like that you would possibly be charged with being a daydreamer. However, the Hellenic Ministry of Transportation and Communications shares your dreams.

On May 21st, 2003, the Transportation and Communications Minister, Hristos Verelis {Χρήστος Βερελής}, presented the program for tram extensions, for the period following the 2004 Olympic Games and due to be completed by the end of the current decade.

Planned tram extensions up to 2010.

The extensions, with a total length of 35.5 miles, will cost approximately €650,000,000.00c and when finished, the Athens basin will have an integrated network of fixed track transport systems which will encompass the suburban railway, the subway and the tram.

Some of these extensions, are familiar to the elderly Athenians, as, in effect, they constitute a "revival" of the old tram lines. New lines aim at covering the needs of new suburbs which spread during the 1960's and the 1970's. The following extensions are scheduled for the period up to 2008:

• Sindagma - Ano Patisia
  {Σύνταγμα - Άνω Πατήσια}
  
  3.5 miles long. This line operated for the first time in 1910 and remained in service, until the 1950's [Patisia-Ambelokipi].

• Larissa Station - Goudi - University campus
  {Σταθμός Λαρίσσης - Γουδί - Πανεπιστημιούπολη}
  
  4 miles long. It will cover a wide area, using as a "passage", part of Alexandras Avenue {Λεωφόρος Αλεξάνδρας}.

• Neo Faliro - I.S.A.P. terminus at Piraeus port
  {Νέο Φάληρο - Τέρμα Η.Σ.Α.Π. στο λιμάνι τού Πειραιώς}
  
  2 miles long. In essence it is an extension of a line which is under construction and will terminate, in the Spring of 2004, at Irinis and Filias {Ειρήνης και Φιλίας ~ Peace and Friendship} Stadium.

By the year 2010, the extensions which link the Piraeus port with Keratsini {Κερατσίνι} [Place Names] and Perama {Πέραμα} (4.7 miles long) [Piraeus-Perama], Ilisia {Ιλίσια} with Zografou {Ζωγράφου} (2.1miles long) and Sindagmatos Square {Σύνταγμα} [Place Names] with Votanikos {Βοτανικός} (2.1 miles long) will have been completed. This last line is a proposition of the company for the Unification of the Archaeological Sites of Athens.

The biggest bet, however, made by the professors and the Ministry, is the construction of a "monstrous" 17.2 miles long line. This line will begin from Piraeus port and will terminate in Agia Paraskevi {Αγία Παρασκευή} Square after passing through 7 suburbs, crossing in its course existing as well as future subway stations. This line is expected to cost €300,000,000.00c approximately, that is to say as much as the 15.6 miles long network which is currently under construction (see Athenian Tram ).

Source: Corporate Newsletter For The Residents And The Market Of Patisia "Patisia Navigator" {Πιλότος Στα Πατήσια}, May 2003.

09-16-2003