Athens metro extension, four new Line 2 stations to open at noon on Friday
The extension of Line 2 on the Athens metro, from Aghios Dimitrios to Elliniko, will be open to passengers from noon on Friday, it has been announced.
Four new stations will be in operation in southeastern Athens: Ilioupoli, Alimos, Argyroupoli and Elliniko.
Seventeen new trains are to be introduced into the Athens metro network to coincide with the opening of the Elliniko extension.
The South Korean-manufactured trains were bought at a cost of 155 million euros to cope with the increase in the number of passengers expected once the Elliniko extension, as well as the ones toward Haidari, Peristeri and Piraeus are completed. The latter is not due until 2017.
The Hyundai Rotem-Hanwha trains have a smart start and stop system that is designed to save energy.
It is expected that an extra 80,000 people will use the metro system once the four new stations on Line 2 open. This will mean 50,000 fewer trips by car in Athens each day, according to transport experts. Passengers will be able to travel from Elliniko in southeastern Athens to Syntagma in the city center in 14 minutes.
