A strike by metro and Kifissia-Piraeus electric railway (ISAP) workers yesterday prevented commuters from using trains but a recent pilot scheme that has led to the service being extended on Friday and Saturday nights has proved a resounding success, according to new figures.

On Saturday night, some 21,000 people used the metro and electric railway during the extended two hours of service, from about midnight to just after 2 a.m.

The two-month pilot scheme began on February 8 and its success has encouraged the Transport Ministry to consider making it a permanent feature of the weekend timetable.

Syntagma station is the most popular with commuters on weekend nights – some 4,000 people pass through the station after midnight on Friday and Saturday. About 8,000 people ride on the electric railway during the extra two-hour period each weekend night.