High speed train from Athens to Thessaloniki full steam ahead for September debut

The much anticipated high-speed passenger train that will run from Athens to Thessaloniki in less than three and a half hours is on track and will be making its debut at the 83rd Thessaloniki International Fair on September 8-16.

Italian state railway group Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) Italiane, owners of Greece’s national passenger and freight train operator Trainose, will present the train at this year’s fair ahead of its official launch scheduled to take place by the end of 2018.

The new train will allow passengers to travel the Athens - Thessaloniki route in just 3 hours and 20 minutes with a maximum speed capability of up to 250 km/hour, once the European Train Control System (ETCS) is tested in 2019.

Test runs will initially be carried out on the Thessaloniki-Katerini section with the official launch scheduled after the last section – the Lianokladi-Domokos electrified line – is completed.

FS has announced 500 million euros in investments in rolling stock on the Athens-Thessaloniki line aiming to make it a competitive transportation option between the two Greek cities.

*Source: GTPHeadlines