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Athens Metro

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Refurbished metro station in Maroussi, Athens.
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Refurbished metro station in Maroussi, Athens.

The Athens Metro is the underground public transport system of Athens, Greece, constructed by the Attiko Metro (Αττικό Μετρό) company (literally 'Attican metro') and the ISAP company (Ilektrikoi Sidirodromoi Athinon-Pireos/Ηλεκτρικοί Σιδηρόδρομοι Αθηνών-Πειραιώς) (Athens Piraeus Electric Railways).

History

Metro Line 1 was inaugurated on February 27 1869 as a steam train connecting Athens and Piraeus and was operated by Athens Piraeus Railway SA. The line was electrified in 1904 and the operating company renamed to Athens Piraeus Electric Railway SA in 1976. Today, Line 1 reaches the suburb of Kifisia and is also known as the green line and the electric railway.

Construction of Metro Lines 2 and 3 began in November 1991 to decrease traffic congestion and clean up the environment by reducing Athens' smog level.

In 1997 the line under contruction between the Syntagma and Panepistemiou stations developed a 5-meter-wide, 24-meter-deep hole. Fearing that Panepistemiou (University) Avenue and the tunnel would collapse, construction was suspended. Later that afternoon, cement trucks filled the hole with concrete to stabilize the ground and avoid closure of the avenue and the subway project. After the hole was entirely filled, construction resumed.

Lines 2 and 3, constructed by Attiko Metro S.A. and operated by Attiko Metro Operations Company S.A. and known as red and blue lines respectively, were inaugurated in 2000 and as of 2005 have 23 stations between them. Line 3 reached the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport in the summer of 2004. All three Metro lines connect with Proastiakos, the Athens Suburban Railway and the tram system.

List of stations of the Athens metro system

Athens metro map
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Athens metro map

List of stations in Line 1 (the green line)

List of stations in Line 2 (the red line)

List of stations in Line 3 (the blue line)

Future Expansions (According to Attiko Metro S.A.) by the end of 2012

The new stations are in bold. The year the station is expected to be given to ciculation is put between parentheses. [link]

Athens Metro future expansion
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Athens Metro future expansion

Attiko Metro Line 2 (Red Line)

Anthoupoli - Elliniko

Attiko Metro Line 3 (Blue Line)

Zea - Doukissis Plakentias - Airport

Attiko Metro Line 4 (Orange Line)

Alsos Veikou - Maroussi (new line, planned)

According to the Metro Development Study, 2 new lines should be constructed, actually branches of the existing lines: line 2 branch (Panepistimio - Alsos Veikou) and line 3 branch (Panormou - Maroussi). Recent investigation results though showed that a construction of an autonomous line would be preferable. The planned line is a result of the unification of the initially planned lines and the addition of some new station between Panepistimio, Evangelismos and Katehaki (instead of Panormou) stations. [link]

Athens Metro map. Extensions plan has been revised in December 2005
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Athens Metro map. Extensions plan has been revised in December 2005

Policies

Exhibition of archaeological finds that came to light during the construction of the project displayed at Metro station Syntagma, Athens.
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Exhibition of archaeological finds that came to light during the construction of the project displayed at Metro station Syntagma, Athens.

In order to maintain a safe, clean and pleasant environment in the Metro system, passengers entering its premises should be informed that the following activities are not allowed:

Pets can be transported only inside special boxes (Law 3082/2002).

The production of a validated ticket or a valid travel card is required inside the trains and in the Metro premises, beyond the validation machines (Laws 1214/1981, 2669/1998, 2801/2000).

Passengers should not attempt to enter the trains after the buzzer has sounded.

External links

 


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