New, smart trains to roll out on Athens metro extension

Seventeen new trains are to be introduced into the Athens metro network later this week, when the extension of Line 2 from Aghios Dimitrios to Elliniko opens to the public.

The South Korean-manufactured trains were bought at a cost of 155 million euros to cope with the increase in the number of passengers expected once the Elliniko extension, as well as the ones toward Haidari, Peristeri and Piraeus are completed. The latter is not due until 2017. The Hyundai Rotem-Hanwha trains have a smart start and stop system that is designed to save energy.

It is expected that an extra 80,000 people will use the metro system once the Elliniko extension is completed. This will mean 50,000 fewer trips by car in Athens each day, according to transport experts. Passengers will be able to travel from Elliniko in southeastern Athens to Syntagma in the city center in 14 minutes.