Mixed news for city commuters
Metro passengers got a boost yesterday, as Holargos station in northeastern Athens opened after several months’ delay, but commuters who use the Kifissia-Piraeus electric railway (ISAP) had little to celebrate as their mode of transport is set for yet more serious disruption. Holargos station, located on Mesogeion Avenue, opened without any complications. Transport authorities expect it to be used daily by 20,000 passengers. Christos Tsitouras, the president of Attiko Metro, the state company responsible for overseeing the expansion of the network, apologized for the delay in completing the station. He said that the work had been held up by numerous archaeological finds. Some of the artifacts found during construction have been put on display in the station. Holargos is the 28th metro station to open in Athens and Tsitouras said work to expand the network is continuing. In contrast, ISAP passengers will face further complications from Monday when the section between the Attiki and Monastiraki stations in central Athens will be closed. The Athens Urban Transport Organization (OASA) said that this part of the line would be out of service until the end of the year due to engineering works. It is the latest suspension of services to hit the electric railway since work to replace the track began last year. ISAP passengers can use lines 2 and 3 of the metro to make the connection between Attiki and Monastiraki but it is likely to add at least 15 minutes to their journey. OASA said that commuters with annual or long-term tickets just for the electric railway will be able to use this part of the metro system at no extra cost. This weekend, there will be no service between Ano Patissia and Neo Faliro stations. A replacement bus service (X20) will be in place.
