Athens Tram to Begin Operation in June
After a brief test drive of the new streetcar in the capital's coastal avenue, the transport minister maintains that the 25km network will be ready for the Olympics

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By John Hadoulis
Athens News

Drivers on the coastal avenue on December 15 stared in disbelief as a towering grey-and-blue train lumbered out of the old Hellenikon airport and ground into position beside them.

The wraps were finally off Athens' new train, which on December 15 made a brief foray outside its depot for the first time since construction of the project, worth over 340 million euros, began in March 2002. Manned by personnel from Italian carriage contractors Ansaldo Breda, the tram made a 5km demonstration run to Glyfada as part of a media presentation organized by the transport ministry.

"There has been impressive progress on the tram's construction," Transport Minister Christos Verelis told reporters. "Twenty-one (out of 25) kilometers of double tracks has already been laid, as have 7.5km of

overhead electric cable ... All construction work will be finished by late March ... The tram will be ready on time."

Reporters who got a first look at the new streetcar walked away with mixed feelings

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The tram is supposed to run from Syntagma Square to the Paleo Faliro coast, subsequently branching to Neo Faliro and Voula. During the Athens 2004 Olympics, it will be a vital transport medium to the coastal sports complexes of Faliro, Hellenikon and Agios Kosmas.

After a slowdown this summer, construction crews have redoubled their efforts to install the last kilometers of track that remain, working weekend shifts to make up for lost time. But difficult sections lie ahead, including the trams key Syntagma Square stop where work slated for this autumn has yet to begin. On December 15, tram officials said crews will begin to work on Amalias Ave in about three weeks.

Verelis said the tram will enter commercial service as of June 1, 2004. The ministry originally planned for a 2003 release, but the tram's construction was held up for months in Paleo Faliro, where ,residents protested that the works would damage this municipality's scenic promenade.

Both the minister and officials from Tram SA, the tram's holding company, were anxious to dispel fears that part of the 25km network may have to be built after the 2004 Olympics because of the Faliro holdup.

The government's top Olympics overseer, Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos, raised this prospect in October when he noted that "the International Olympic Committee is not interested in the Neos Cosmos

"Of course the line will include a Syntagma stop" Verelis insisted on December 15. He also denied that some tram stops may not be built before the 2004 Games for reasons of expediency.

By the end of February, the ministry will be ready to announce the tram's fare Policy, organizers said. Tickets are expected to cost between 45 and 70 cents, and there are plans for a charge card that will also be valid on Athens buses and the Metro.

After the Olympics -- and elections, which are scheduled for spring 2004 -- the transport ministry plans to extend the tram network to the Athens districts of Patissia, Goudi and the port of Piraeus. The Piraeus extension is expected to begin first, Verelis said, in the mid-2005.