The contracts for the restoration and repair of the railway network in the Regions of Thessaly and Central Greece, following the extensive damage caused by the natural disasters “Daniel” and “Elias” in September 2023, were signed Monday at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.
The signing ceremony took place in the presence of the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Dimas, and the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance, Nikos Papathanasis. The contracts were officially signed by the Deputy Minister of Transport, Konstantinos Kyranakis, alongside the contractors.
“These projects are of critical importance, as their completion will restore rail traffic across all affected sections, significantly improving safety for citizens and ensuring the uninterrupted transport of goods,” said Minister Dimas.
According to the transport ministry, the budget for the restoration and repair works is set at 450.12 million euros, with the duration of the contracts scheduled for 15 months starting from today.
This package includes four major contracts:
– Restoration of the Double Railway Line Athens – Thessaloniki
The project covers the restoration of the infrastructure and upper track layers of the Athens-Thessaloniki line, from the Domokos Railway Station exit to the Krannona Railway Station entrance. This will also involve stabilizing slopes, trenches, and embankments, along with reinforcing the network to withstand future extreme weather events.
– Restoration of the Single Railway Line Paleofarsalo – Kalambaka
This includes the restoration and flood prevention works necessary for the safe and uninterrupted operation of the Paleofarsalo-Kalambaka line. The project will ensure resilience to weather phenomena that frequently affect the area.
– Restoration of the Single Railway Line Larissa – Volos
The restoration works will cover the following sections:
i) Exit from Larissa Railway Station to Latomiou Railway Station
ii) Latomiou Railway Station to the entrance of Volos Railway Station
iii) Two stations at Volos Railway Station
This will involve restoring railway and metal bridges, reinforcing vulnerable sections of the infrastructure against flooding, and conducting accompanying water management works.
– Repair of Signaling, ETCS (European Train Control System) L1, Remote Control, and Electric Drive Systems
In the section of the double railway line from Paleofarsalo Railway Station to Krannona Railway Station, the repair of signaling, remote control, and ETCS systems will be undertaken. This will allow for the reactivation of the signaling and remote control systems, enhancing traffic safety and enabling the resumption of double-track traffic. The project will also increase the capacity of the Athens-Thessaloniki line.
According to Minister Dimas, tomorrow, Tuesday, April 29, contracts for the restoration of the road network will be signed in Larissa.
The total value of all interventions — both on the railway and road networks — amounts to 1.35 billion euros.
“This substantial investment highlights the scale of the devastation caused by the disasters and the urgent need to secure funding to restore vital public infrastructure,” Dimas said, adding that to make the projects possible, 600 million euros has been secured from the Recovery and Resilience Fund, while the remaining 735 million euros will come from national resources.
Follow GTP Headlines on Google News to keep up to date with all the latest on tourism and travel in Greece.
Source link
