Beachside tram link now ready
The Athens tram will start itineraries on its newly built extension to the southern suburb of Voula tomorrow, according to its operator. Trams will make the trip every 7.5 minutes and the extension is expected to be used by an estimated 2,500 commuters daily in addition to the 60,000 commuters already using the tram service. Currently the tram line ends in the nearby suburb of Glyfada. Apart from serving residents of the southern suburbs, the extension will provide a connection to local beaches and the Asclepieio Hospital. From the new terminus – at Asclepieio Voulas – the trip to Palaio Faliron will take 29 minutes, to Nea Smyrni 36 minutes and to Kallithea 39 minutes. A total of 11 million euros was spent on building the Voula route, which has been lined with more than 150 trees and 450 bushes. An extension of the tram to Piraeus is scheduled to be built by 2010, the ministry has said. Ticket vending machines will be available at the Voula stop which will also have a staffed ticket booth.
