Press release
Athens, 7 July 2022
Visit of the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport and the President and Managing Director of ERGOSE to railway works in Northern Greece
Athens 7 July 2022 – The progress of the infrastructure works for the upgrading of the railway network of Northern Greece was inspected today by the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, responsible for infrastructure issues, Mr. George Karagiannis and the President and CEO of ERGOSE, Mr. Christos Vinis.
Initially, Mr.George Karagiannis and Mr.Christos Vinis visited the offices of the construction site for the modernization of the railway line “Thessaloniki – Idomeni”, a project of major importance with a multiplier effect for the development of the country, which has already entered the implementation phase after the signing of the relevant contract in March 2022.
They then visited the construction site for the manufacture of two new railway bridges on the Thessaloniki – Florina Line, which will replace the existing metal bridges, upgrading the operation of the railway and maximizing transport safety.
Thessaloniki – Idomeni
The project for the modernization of the Thessaloniki – Idomeni railway line, concerns the installation of a modern signalling system on the Thessaloniki – Idomeni section and the replacement of 37 track switches for the needs of signalling, for a price of 40.973.034,12 euros, plus VAT.
Through this project:
The operational upgrading of the Thessaloniki-Edomeni line, which is one of the main commercial cross-border connections with the rest of Europe, will be achieved.
The modernisation of the railway line leading to the border with the Western Balkans is completed, linking Greece with Central and Western Europe. A significant increase in the capacity of the freight network is foreseen.
The contractor of the project is “ENOSI ABAX – ALSTOM” and co-financing from European Union funds, from the NSRF 2014-2020, has been secured for the project under the Operational Program “Transport Infrastructure, Environment and Sustainable Development” (OP-Transport Infrastructure, Environment and Sustainable Development).
The physical scope of the project concerns:
- installation of a new electronic signalling – telecommand system, which will replace the existing system with relays
- installation of ETCS L1 track-side system on the whole section
- signalling of the lateral protection of the open line of the Polykastro – Paionia – Idomeni section
- replacement of 37 track switches with new ones at localised stations on the section, for the proper operation of the signalling system
- installation of 4 new track switches and construction of superstructure works for a new branch line, approximately 2.275 km long, in the area of Mikro Dasos
- installation of electric heating system of track-switches in the stations of this section
- installation of a passive fiber optic network for the transmission of signalling and electrification data, as well as a telecommunications network for voice communications needs
- installation of electrification on the new bypass in the area of Mikro Dasos
The construction period of the project is 36 months, with an additional 36-month period of mandatory maintenance after completion.
Twin railway bridges on the Gallikos River
The contract for the construction of the two new railway bridges of the Thessaloniki – Florina Line, which will replace the existing metal bridges, was signed in May 2019.
The contractor of the project is SIDIRODROMIKA ERGA SA. The cost of the project amounts to €4.42 million and is expected to be completed by the end of 2022.
The project has been co-funded by the European Union, through the NSRF 2014-2020, under the Operational Program “Transport Infrastructure, Environment and Sustainable Development” (OP-Transport Infrastructure, Environment and Sustainable Development).
More specifically, the project includes:
- Technical works of the construction of the two new bridges
- Laying of a new railway line on the new railway bridges, with a total length of 700 m.
- Hydraulic works for the formation of Gallikos riverbed, as well as hydraulic works for the diversion of the riverbed
- Works for the installation of the new electrification network, in the respective network zones, on the Up and Down railway lines.
- Reinstallation of GSMR and ETCS in the new locations.
- Railway works to maintain the operation of the existing railway line
- Construction works – rehabilitation of the existing road network to serve local vehicular traffic.
In a statement after the inspections at both sites, the Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Mr. George Karagiannis, responsible for infrastructure issues, said: “We had the opportunity to see up close how two important projects for the country’s rail network and especially that of Northern Greece are “running”. Work on the Thessaloniki – Idomeni line has been underway three months ago and involves interventions that will modernise the railway systems, maximising safety and providing comfort on the journey. The network will be comparable to other European networks and this will pave the way for international passenger services which have been almost non-existent for years.
We also saw up close the work on Gallikos River, which is well advanced. We can confidently say that at the end of 2022 we will have two new railway bridges, on the ascending and descending sections, on the Thessaloniki – Florina line. We are thus replacing the two existing metal bridges and maximising transport safety.
These two projects are a part of what is being done in Thessaloniki and more widely in Northern Greece. Infrastructure is in the foreground and through its modernisation the road to development for all is opening up.
Our interventions, especially in the railways, are part of an overall, coherent plan, the largest programme of projects ever undertaken in the country. We are thus confirming our clear decision in the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, under Kostas Karamanlis, to make the development and improvement of the most environmentally friendly, economical and green means of transport a reality. With political will, proper planning and close supervision, we are succeeding.”
The President and CEO of ERGOSE Mr. Christos Vinis noted: “ERGOSE is rapidly progressing the completion of infrastructure that significantly upgrades the railway network. Northern Greece and Thessaloniki are at the heart of the modernization of the Greek railways, but also of the development perspective brought by the implementation of the strategic plan for the railway and its integration into a wide combined transport network.
We continue to rigorously implement our goal, which is the emergence of our country as an international transport hub, and at the same time the qualitative upgrading of rail transport, with respect to people and the environment.”
For more information you can contact the following contact details:
Tel: 210 5283 492
Email: info@ergose.gr
About ERGOSE:
ERGOSE S.A. was established in 1996 as a subsidiary of OSE and belongs to the public utilities. The company’s mission is to complete a modern railway network that will constitute an important development pillar for the Greek economy and society, contributing to the safety and speed of transport of people, goods and freight. In this context, ERGOSE S.A. currently manages the modernization projects of the railway lines and facilities of OSE co-financed by the Operational Programmes of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) 2014-2020 from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) 2014-2020 as well as projects with purely national funding that are necessary to complete the investments of the co-financed programmes. The company currently employs more than 200 experienced and highly qualified staff, while it has been providing its services for more than two decades, responding effectively and reliably to the implementation of projects through its excellent organization, structure and systems.
