Metro 3 to resume direct connection to/from Athens Airport after outrage

Athens Metro Line 3 will resume direct connection to/from Athens International Airport in the next few days following an outrage by commuters and travelers who had to change platforms with their luggage at <Doukissis Plakentias> station. Worth noting that the new decision is  taken just seven days after the halting of direct connection went into effect.

Athens Urban Rail Transport Organization (STASY) announced on Wednesday that the direct connection for Metro Line 3  Agia Marina – Athens Airport and vice versa will resume in the next days.

Once the direct service resumes, airport train journeys will continue for the entire length of line 3 and passengers will not have to switch trains and platforms at Doukissis Plakentias Station, STASY said in a statement.

The new decision reverses the STASY decision that went into effect on 1. November 2018 and forced travelers to climb and descend stairs with their luggage in order to change platform and catch another Metro from <Doukissis Plakentias> station to the Airport.

Halting the direct connection had the effect that no other public transport means on rail track other than suburban train Proastiakos was available for those wanting to reach downtown Athens.

According to STASY, halting the direct connection to/from Airport was aiming to increase the frequenty of metro schedules between <Agia Marina> in West Athens and <Doukissis Plakentias> in East Athens during peak hours.

Neither this explanation is convincing nor the one that the Transport Ministry was allegedly not aware of halting the direct connection to/from the Airport.

Citing sources, news agency amna and other media report today that “the secretary general of the Infrastructure and Transport Ministry, Thanos Vourdas, sent a letter to the Athens Public Transport Organisation (OASA) and STASY administrations, criticizing the decision and asking for explanations, including whether OASA had approved the changes made by STASY.”

PS There is a nice German proverb: too many cooks spoil the broth as every cook adds his own ingredients and if something goes wrong nobody can claim responsibility.