With kettledrums and trumpets, the Metro of Thessaloniki began running on the tracks, 40 years after the original idea was captured, decades of delays and cost overruns.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis pressed the button for the start during a festive inauguration at “Venizelos” station early Saturday afternoon, on the “historical day for Thessaloniki,” as media hailed, the 30th November 2024.
Also there were half of his cabinet, the President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, local dignitaries and priests to bless the operation of modern technology with Holy Water.
Following his speech, the Prime Minister, the President and ministers, visited the control center and took a ride with the inaugural train to “Papafi” station.
With the press of the button, barriers at all 13 metro stations simultaneously opened, allowing public access to the network.
One Metro Line, 9.6 km long, 13 stations, at a cost totaling 3.6 billion euros. The whole distance is being covered in 17 minutes and it has capacity to transport 250,000 passengers per day.
The “most modern Metro in Europe” – as Mitsotakis said must be the smallest and the most expensive one in Europe – maybe in the whole world. Locals complained that it reaches neither the International Airport nor the KTEL intercity bus station.
The Premier the Thessaloniki Metro as a “symbol of progress” for both Macedonia and Greece and pledged that the extension to Kalamaria would be completed by the end of 2025, followed by the western Thessaloniki expansion.
“The Metro is the most modern in Europe, as Thessaloniki deserves,” said Mitsotakis. “It is a tangible project that, until the very last moment,
I am certain many in the city doubted would become a reality. But here it is.”
Too bad the weather was not on the side of the festive mood , it rained, the water leaked from the roof in 3 stations, local media reported.
The rain water was not the only surreal incident of the first day of the Metro operation. A few hours later, passengers were stunned to hear a voice warning them of a “fire in the station.” However, not fire was detected. A bit later, the voice told them “the alarm was a …drill,” local media seleo.gr reported.
@_princesscharming_ Καλορίζικο😂#mitsotakis #φοργιου #fyp #fy #μετροθεσσαλονικης ♬ original sound – PrincessCharming
Locals keep traveling up and down with the Metro until late on Saturday, on the first day of the operation of something they were thinking it was “a joke” and enjoy a free ride as from November 30 until December 3, the transport is free of charge.
After decades of delays and cost overruns, the Greek city of Thessaloniki finally gets its subway line. pic.twitter.com/fUjJ2CJ7Ee
— Teacher Dude (@teacherdude) November 30, 2024
From December 4, the ticket price is €0.60 and has a duration of 70 minutes.
On working days it will operate from 5 a.m. until midnight and over the weekends for two hours longer.
PS In his excitement, Transport Minister Christos Staikouras said that the Metro was a “geostrategic target.” I have truly no idea how they plan to use the Metro other than for passengers’ transport. Maybe beam it to conquer Istanbul?
