ERGOSE aims at minimizing the environmental impact of railway projects construction, by means of sound action planning during both the project design and construction. This achieves the target of sustainable development of the areas served by the new railway projects.
Environmental Impact Studies are carried out for all the projects and the respective licenses are obtained, as prescribed by the Greek and European legislation.
Based on the conclusions of the above studies, favourable solutions are selected with the smallest possible impact on the environment and sensitive ecosystems.
Special emphasis is attributed to the railway sections crossing protected areas integrated in the Natura2000 network.
The additional cost of these projects is secured from the railway projects budget.
Environmental Management
Based on the conclusions of the Environmental Impact Studies elaborated for each project, at the design phase, wherever possible and advisable, technical solutions are selected for the route of the railway line, which are environmental friendly, such as:
- tunnels constructed with Cut & Cover or underground excavation instead of big trenches
- bridges instead of large embankments
- technical transits for the fauna of the area, most notably the area of protection of the wolf in Sterea Hellas
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- construction of flood preventing works to protect both the railway project as well as the surrounding area
- restoration works of the affected areas (sound barriers protecting the urban environment from noise, urban renewal after the project completion, urban planning arrangements, planting works to restore the surrounding area, etc.).
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During the construction stage, special attention is attributed so that the project contractors take all the necessary measures in order to protect the environment and prevent pollution, such as, indicatively:
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- The disposal or borrowing of materials is carried out in areas where the environmental licenses foreseen by the applicable legislation have been obtained. These areas are restored after the project completion.
- Steps are taken to prevent contamination of the soil and ground water by disposal of materials to recycling (lubricants, rubber, etc.).
- Measures are adopted to prevent the disruption of the neighbouring urban areas (minimization of dust and sound pollution, etc.).
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Replanting Olive Trees
In order to construct the projects, the necessary land is expropriated, including the trees. For the first time in Greece, an innovative action has been developed with a strictly environmental approach, in order to manage this plant capital and save as many olive trees as possible (a significant number of which are perennial), through the process of replanting, in cooperation with public or private bodies.
The areas where this activity is carried out are located along the axis of the new railway line, in the Kiato-Patras section and specifically in the greater Aigio area.
