The Thessaloniki-Florina rail link is back in operation, after a successful test run in which Kostas Kyranakis participated. The Edessa-Florina route, with an intermediate stop in Amyndeon, marks the return of the line to normal use, with OSE and Hellenic Train declaring themselves ready to serve passengers.
The Deputy Transport Minister expressed his satisfaction with the completion of the interventions, stressing that the restart came after months of intensive work. He noted that technical crews from both agencies worked in coordination to resolve serious issues that had kept the line out of service for a long period of time.
According to him, the network is now safe and fully operational, with trains capable of running at up to 100 km/h, a speed that was achieved at various points along the route.
At the same time, he announced that regular services are expected to start by the end of May, with two daily departures (morning and afternoon), while he left open the possibility of increasing the number of services if demand requires it. He also stressed that the viability of the route depends largely on the response of passengers.
He also made special reference to the contribution of the local community and its representatives, noting that the return of the train is not only of transport but also of social importance, as it serves the daily needs of citizens such as workers, students and elderly people.
In terms of safety, he announced that next month an accurate geolocation system will be put into operation, which will provide real-time information on the position of trains, adherence to schedules and any delays. The same system will allow the OSE to monitor traffic and immediately identify potential violations, enhancing travel safety.
Referring to the overall planning for the Greek railway, he stressed that the priority is the restoration and modernisation of the network, with emphasis on the Athens-Thessaloniki axis. He reiterated that the relevant works will be completed by the end of the summer, so that by September, services will be fully resumed with modern telecommand, signalling and automatic braking systems.
For the Thessaloniki-Edomeni line, he said that the upgrade work has been completed, restoring an important international connection that had been inactive for years.
As regards the connection between Florina and North Macedonia, he explained that a small section remains to be repaired near the border on the Greek side, but priority is currently given to the stable operation of the Thessaloniki-Florina line.
The reopening of the line was welcomed by the mayors of Florina, Amyndeon and Prespa, as well as the Mayor of West Macedonia George Amanatidis.
