(Greece )ATHENS-L3

Images kindly supplied by Attiko Metro S.A.. (Thanks)
Egaleo	Keramikos	Monastiraki
Ethniki Amyna Doukissis Plakentias metro car

ATHENS
Athens metro network is constituted by 3 lines; the first one (Line 1) derives from the elder Piraeus-Athens railway (end of XIX century), which was transformed during the years in a properly said metro.
Line 2 runs north-west/south-east along a 11 km route (14 stops); first phase opened in 2000 (Sepolia-Syntagma), with further extensions to Dafni-Aghios Dimitros (2000-2004); other extensions (south-east to the elder airport at Helleniki and north-west from Aghios Antonios to Anthoupoli) are going to be completed. Line 2 interchanges with surface railways at Larissa Station, with Line 1 at Omonia and Attiki.
Line 3 opened in 2003, after years of problematic works, both during the project and both during the construction phase; difficulties were caused by archeologic and architectonic existing elements along the route, besides the particular characteristics of the soils. After many discussions the choice was to utilize small TBMs instead of a bigger one after a soil consolidation. Some of the cars invert the voltage (from 750 V DC to 25 KV AC) at Doukissis Plakentias stop in order to procede up to Eleftherios Venizelos Airport using the tracks of an existing railway. Works are currently going on in order to complete the western extension to Haidari (a first step towards a further extension towards Piraeus); Monastiraki-Egaleo segment opened on May 2007 along this axis. Line 3 interchanges with Line 2 at Syntagma (2 levels station).
A fourth line (Line 4) has been planned; it will be articulated in 2 branches (Maroussi-Panormou, Panepistimio- Alsos Veikou), connecting some populated areas (Galatsi, Kypseli, Pangrati, Kaissariani, Zografou, Kifissias Avenue), some important urban polarities (Hospital for Children, Laiko Hospital), and many university foundations.
Attiko Metro (official site)

CHRONOLOGY
22-04-2003	Syntagma-Monastiraki
24-07-2004	Ethniki Amyna-Halandri
28-07-2004	Halandri-Doukissis Plakentias
30-07-2004	Doukissis Plakentias-Athens Airport
10-07-2006	Peania-Kantza stop, Koropi stop
Set 2006	Pallini stop
26-05-2007	Monastiraki-Egaleo
23-07-2010	Holargos stop
30-12-2010	Ag. Paraskevi stop

Country	Greece
Line	Line 3
Inhabitants	City 900.000, District 3.100.000
Date opening	2000
Future development:	Haidari extension; Piraeus extension
Length (km)	39.6
Track sections	underground km 26.4
Stops	20 (16 underground, 4 ground level), average distance m 2000
Platforms	side (except for Ethniki Amyna and Monastiraki stops)
Platform doors	--
General characteristics	length m 110
n. of vehicles	28 first generation +21 second generation (14 ordinary+7 dual voltage)
n. of cars per vehicle	6
Type	steel wheels
Vehicle dimensions (m)	Length 106; width 2.8
Vehicle capacity (pax)	first generation: 1161 (216 seated); second generation (ordinary vehicles): 1062 (196 seated); second generation (dual voltage vehicles): 1026 (158 seated)
Frequency	3/10 min
Current/Voltage	750 V DC from third rail (750 V DC/25 KV AC for dual voltage vehicles)
Guide/gauge	1435 mm
Speed Km/h	Comm --; Max 80 (ordinary vehicles)/120 (dual voltage vehicles)
Accel./Decel. (m/sec2)	1.0/1.1
System capacity	--
Ridership	650.000 pax/day
Total cost	45 M Euro/km
Staff	--
System builder	SIEMENS (first generation vehicles); MITSUBISHI/VAPOR/KNORR-BREMSE (second generation vehicles)
Model	--
NOTE	rolling stock (referred to L2+L3): fisrt generation (SIEMENS), second generation (MITSUBISHI/VAPOR/KNORR-BREMSE) cost and ridership referred to L2+L3 construction phases: Jan 2000: Ethniki-Syntagma (8.5 km); Apr 2003: Syntagma-Monastiraki(1 km); Jul 2004: Ethniki Amyna-Doukissis Plakentias; May 2007: Doukissis Plakentias-Eleftherios Venizelos