Latest tests: Thessaloniki metro to open in November

There are only four months left until the opening of the Thessaloniki metro. The final tests and checks are underway to ensure the flawless operation of such an important, complex and long-awaited urban infrastructure facility.

Various situations are being worked out. For example: In the event of a possible fire scenario, fire safety tests and exercises include the operation of air extraction systems, and in the event of a power failure, the operation of alternative sources is tested. Nikos Takhiaos, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, says:

“Every two stations have a separate power supply. If, for example, the power goes out in Monastiriou, a substation will open in Vardari. If the power goes out in Vardari, another one will open in Sintrivani. Safety measures are taken into account in everything. In order to turn off the metro, it is necessary to turn off the power in all of Thessaloniki. However, even in this case, there are evacuation corridors and markings so that someone can go directly to the station.”

Mr. Tahiaos states categorically: “there is no talk of any flooding”, as well as a hypothetical “case of a train collision”, since “there are two tunnels – the train enters one and exits the other, and everything is very well thought out. The possibility of a train crashing into the train in front is excluded.”

The work is “in full swing”. According to the deputy minister, “testing of the systems is being carried out with the help of the German company TUV Rheinland, which will carry out certification.” This is a very strict company. The construction consortium and the train supplier, in this case Hitachi Rail, and the operating company THEEMA are participating in the tests.

Meanwhile, training of already hired personnel continues and new employees are recruited. The Deputy Minister explains:

“What’s happening now is essentially coordination at all levels to ensure everything is ready by November of this year.”

As a typical example of control, he cites the doors through which passengers enter the subway:

“The stations of Thessaloniki are different from those of Athens. The passenger cannot see the station (αποβάθρα). There are doors that open and close automatically. That is, when a train arrives, the door opens and someone enters the train through the door. They do not have access to the platform. These doors, when they were installed, opened and closed by themselves for three days to test them. These were the first systems, but they are all constantly being tested.”

According to Mr. Tahiao, “Construction work is 99% complete at all stations except Venizelos”They will finish there at the beginning of September, because they started later.”

At the first stage, writes CNN Greece, the main metro line will be operating, routes will run every three minutes, and in the future, it is possible to run every 1.5 minutes.

Thessaloniki Metro has 13 modern stations with a central platform, 9.6 km of lines with two independent single-track tunnels and 18 super-automatic modern trains, fully air-conditioned.

Trains will have attendants instead of driversso that the public can get a preview of the train. The role of the conductors is to find out if there are any problems, while they themselves can control the train manuallyif for some reason it stops.

A similar support is present in the Copenhagen metro, which follows the same philosophy as the Thessaloniki metro and whose trains are made by the same company. The deputy minister says:

“The escorts in Copenhagen don't board the trains, they are at the stations. They come on the trains from time to time to check that everything is OK.”

To what extent will people ultimately use the metro? Mr. Takhiaos stresses:

“The only thing that can be said for sure is that when restructuring the bus lines, an attempt will be made to connect all lines to the metro to relieve the burden on city transport. We are not responsible for traffic. This is an issue for the city itself to resolve.”

The deadline for the main line is approaching and, according to the deputy minister, the plan for the first day of the metro's operation has not yet been agreed upon: “But for Thessaloniki it will certainly be a festive day.”

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