The countdown has begun for the opening of the Thessaloniki Metro extension to Kalamaria, as testing is proceeding smoothly and the handover of the five new stations remains scheduled for mid-summer.
Meanwhile, the main metro line will resume operations tomorrow after having been temporarily suspended since May 29, in order to complete the necessary technical inspections and interoperability tests with the new extension.
The above was noted by the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Dimas, expressing his optimism regarding the project’s progress. “The test runs are going very well,” he emphasized, assuring that the extension to Kalamaria will open to the public this summer.
Responding to questions about the progress of the metro test runs in Thessaloniki, on the sidelines of the 3rd Meeting of the Black Sea – Aegean Sea Corridor Platform (BACP), held today in Thessaloniki, Mr. Dimas said: “The test runs are continuing. As we have said, the extension to Kalamaria, with its five new stations, will open to the public this summer.”
He did not specify a specific date for the start of commercial operations on the metro extension to Kalamaria, emphasizing that all testing must be completed and the necessary certifications issued first. “I understand that you want a specific date. Until all testing is completed and we have received the necessary certifications, we will not be able to announce a date. However, so far, the testing is going very well,” he noted.
A little more patience
At the same time, he emphasized that technical inspections and certification procedures are in full swing, while expressing his optimism that they will be completed in the coming weeks. “The goal is by the middle of summer. Just a little more patience—there are only a few weeks left. What I can assure you is that meetings are taking place daily and test runs are being conducted every day. We are optimistic that very soon we will be able to launch the extension to Kalamaria,” he said.
Mr. Dimas noted that the operation of the new line is expected to significantly improve transportation in eastern Thessaloniki, noting that this is a project eagerly anticipated by both the city’s residents and its visitors.
It should be noted that the main line of the Thessaloniki metro temporarily suspended operations on May 29, in order to carry out the necessary tests and technical inspections for the full integration of the extension to Kalamaria. With the completion of the relevant work, the main line will resume normal passenger service starting tomorrow, while testing on the new section will continue in preparation for its opening to the public this summer.
