Metro to make for Anthoupolis
The Public Works Ministry yesterday called for bids to build two new Athens metro stations that will extend the underground railway system to the capital’s western fringes by the end of 2007. The Peristeri and Anthoupolis stations will lie to the west of Aghios Antonios, the current westernmost station on Line 2 that ends at the Alekos Panagoulis station in Aghios Dimitrios, southern Athens. Most of the tunneling work has already been completed, and the tender involves the two stations, a 530-meter tunnel and four air shafts. Work on the 125-million-euro project is expected to start in the summer of 2005. According to Attiko Metro estimates, the new extension to Line 2 will allow commuters from the western suburbs to reach Syntagma Square in the city center within 13 minutes. The journey currently takes at least 45 minutes by car. Metro officials are planning to build a large car park beside the Anthoupolis station, to be built in such a way as to allow further extensions to the north and west.
