The Ministry of Infrastructure has launched a tender for the extension of line 2 from Antoupoli to Ilion with three stations. In fact, Attiko Metro will also build an underground car park at one of the stations so that it can also function as a transfer station. The same tender includes the expansion of the main metro station at Eleonas, as well as the modernization of the passenger information system.

The new extension will be 4 kilometers long and will include three stations, all within the boundaries of the municipality of Ilion: “Palatiani” (at the intersection of Thebes Avenue with Cappadocia Street), “Ilion” (at the intersection of Thebes with Eleon Street) and “Agios Nikolaos” (at the intersection of Agios Nikolaos and Paramythia streets). Of course, the choice of “Agios Nikolaos” raises questions, given the existence of another station (ISAP) with the exact same name and many more stations with the names of saints, which increases confusion among the passenger public. According to a statement by Attiko Metro, the extension will serve 67,000 passengers per day, reducing the distance from Ilion to Omonia to 16 minutes.

Near the Palatiani station, a three-level underground parking will be built, directly connected to the station. Similar zones exist today at several stations, such as FIX and Nomizmatokopio, which function as interchange stations. Also at the station “Ilion” a future “meeting” of the extension of the 4th line to St. Petersburg will be provided.

It is 4 km long and includes three new stations, one of which will have a three-level underground parking.

The tender goes not only for the extension itself, but also for two projects in the metro network. Firstly, this is the extension of the main metro station at Eleonas. According to the project announcement, the depot will be expanded to an area of ​​20 acres at the corner of Agia Anna and Pieria streets, which is mainly occupied by the warehouses of the old Softex factory (part of the area has already been expropriated by Metro Attico).

The second concerns the replacement of the digital data transmission system (these are well-known signs indicating the arrival time of trains) and the warning system at all stations of lines 2 and 3, except for the extension to Piraeus. “These systems are no longer supported by their manufacturers, there are no spare parts, and the number of their failures has increased,” the project announcement says.

What is not included in the tender for an extension to Ilion? Submission of additional trains. It is worth noting that the purchase of eight trains was also mentioned in the recent decision to include the project in the new PSRP, which ultimately “failed” in the project announcement. The project cost is 682 million euros (including VAT). The tender will take place in two stages (so no contractors are expected during the year) and the construction period is 57 months.

“Avenue of Thebes will be the new Kifisios”

The extension of the metro, especially in the direction of the “unjustified” from the transport point of view of the western suburbs, is certainly positive news. However, there is a need for a timely urban redevelopment of the project area as Tivon Avenue (where two of the three new stations will be located) will become more important, as will Kifisias Avenue for the northern suburbs.

“Metro extensions reinforce old city pillars that were created in shopping streets or ‘plazas’ or create new ones within a radius of 500-700 meters from each station,” explains the NTUA Distinguished Professor of Urban Planning. School of Architecture, Yiannis Polizos. “When we strengthen centralization, it is definitely positive, people are better served. The danger in these cases lies in uniformity, i.e. in the “occupation” of trading places by the same coffee and prepared food chains, which deprives these areas of identity.” The problem is that, especially in areas outside the center, there is no broader planning for how the subway will affect them. “In this case, two of the three stations of the extension to Ilion are located on Tivon Avenue, which is gradually being upgraded to a supporting axis, like Kifisias Avenue. It is therefore essential that there be a timely prediction of its future nature and the necessary urban planning or traffic intervention.”

Stationary transport is by far the most reliable form of public transport. “Currently, the 4th line is under construction, and in two years the expansion to Ilion will also begin. Therefore, they will end almost simultaneously, towards the end of the decade. But will extensions keep up with traffic growth? says Mr. Polizos. “In my opinion, we should look for other tools, ie. specialized buses, as throughout Europe, connecting suburban areas with other cheaper fixed routes such as trams. With vehicular traffic currently moving outside the city center across Europe, we should focus on the immediate and wider suburban area in the coming years.”