Thessaloniki Metro
Thessaloniki Metro
Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης
2 (1 under construction, 1 planned)
44 (18 under construction, 26 planned)
678,000 (projected)
116.8 mln
November 2024 (Line 1, Base Project), Summer 2025 (Line 1, Kalamaria Extension)
Thessaloniki Metro Automatic (THEMA)
Azienda Trasporti Milanesi (51%) and Egis Group (49%)[1]
Underground
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
90 km/h (56 mph)[2]
The Thessaloniki Metro (Greek: Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης, , [meˈtro θesaloˈnicis]) is an underground rapid-transit system under construction in Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city. Estimates for the cost of the megaproject are €1.62 billion ($1.83 billion) for the main line and €640 million ($723 million) for the Kalamaria extension, for a total of €2.26 billion ($2.55 billion). The project is primarily funded with loans from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and funds from the Greek government. Construction by a Greek-Italian consortium is overseen by Elliniko Metro S.A., the Greek state-owned company which oversaw construction of the Athens Metro and Athens Tram. It will operated by Thema S.A. Franco-Italian consortium.
Proposed during the 1910s and first seriously planned in the 1980s, construction of the main line began in 2006 and on the Kalamaria extension in 2013. The system under construction has 18 stations and 14.4 km (8.9 mi) of tunnels.
After years of delays, due mainly to archaeological discoveries in the city centre during construction and in part to the Greek financial crisis, the main line is scheduled to open in November 2024.[7][8] The system will be entirely driverless and remote-controlled.
In popular culture[edit]
Construction delays have made the Thessaloniki Metro the subject of a number of jokes in Greece.[75][76][77][78] News satire websites such as To Koulouri have satirised the metro on numerous occasions with stories such as "Thessaloniki Metro will operate on a 24-hour basis during the Christmas rush"[79] and "Thessaloniki Metro enters its 763rd day of strike",[80] and it has been cited in satirical lyrics by the Greek rapper Tus.[81] Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras joked about the delays at the 2018 Thessaloniki International Fair: "What's happening with the metro, guys? Will it get built here?"[82]