Larissa–Volos railway
The railway from Larissa to Volos is a 60.8-kilometre long[2] railway branch line that connects Larissa with the coastal port city of Volos in Thessaly, Greece. It is the most important railway line of Thessaly after the Athens–Kalambaka line. Its western terminal is Larissa railway station, where there are connections to Athens and Thessaloniki.
| Larissa–Volos railway | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Volos station 1995 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | railway line | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Operational | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locale | Greece (Thessaly) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Termini | Larissa 39.3746°N 22.2522°E Volos 39.6295°N 22.4228°E | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stations | 7 (1 out of use) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Services | Regional | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | 1960 (1884 with a metric gauge) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | OSE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator(s) | TrainOSE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line length | 60.8 km (37.8 mi)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track length | 1.435mm (Standard gauge) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of tracks | Single track[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electrification | No[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating speed | 100 km/h (62 mph) (highest) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Course
The western terminal of the Larissa–Volos line is Larissa railway station in Larissa. It continues to the southeast by passing through Kileler, Armenio and Stefanovikeio, before heading south and reaches Velestino where it meets the former metric line to Kalambaka. The line then advances eastwards from Melissiatika ending at Volos.
Stations
The stations on the Larissa–Volos railway serve are:
History
Authorise by the Greek government under the law AMH’/22.6.1882.[3] The Larissa–Volos line was inaugurated on 22 April 1884, as part of the Thessaly Railways. The line was designed and led by Italian born, Evaristo De Chirico (father of the famous painter Giorgio De Chirico) and banker Theodoros Mavrogordatos, with a metric range and its route was somewhat different from the current one, ie passing through the Quarry of Volos and proceeding to the center of the city, while there was a connecting line Volos in Pelion, which was served by the train of Pelion. Also, in Velestino, from 1884 to 1999, there was a line-to-Kalamaka response. In 1960[4] the decision was made to convert the line from metric to standard gauge, to allow through traffic from Larissa via the Athens-Thessaloniki line to Athens, without the need change trains at Larissa, thus speeding up travel times.
Services
The Larissa–Volos railway is used by the following passenger services:
- Regional trains Larissa-Volos. The journey takes around 48 minutes.[5]
Future
In 2015 TrainOSE proposed expanding the line, by doubling the track with full electrification and installing ETCS systems along the line.[6] On 4 September 2017[7] OSE announced the project's tendering procedure is under preparation, using the funding: Operational Programme "Transport Infrastructures, Environment and Sustainable Development 2014-2020"[8] with an estimated cost of €60 Μillion.[7] The project is one of 14 such projects, seen as vital for improving rail connectivity across Greece.[7] As of late 2019 the line is under renovation, as part of Phase B’ of the works involving the execution of electrical installation works.[9]
References
- "OSE - 2017 Network Statement Annexes".
- https://www.ose.gr/en/25-about-ose/89-σιδηροδρομική-υποδομή-2
- https://thessalyrailways.gr/?page_id=2768&lang=en
- https://thessalyrailways.gr/?page_id=2768&lang=en
- https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Larissa/Volos
- https://www.railwaypro.com/wp/ergoses-new-generation-railway-projects-in-greece/
- http://www.ergose.gr/view.php?&id=149&lang_code=en
- http://www.ose.gr/en/25-about-ose/89-%CF%83%CE%B9%CE%B4%CE%B7%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%B4%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%BC%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE-%CF%85%CF%80%CE%BF%CE%B4%CE%BF%CE%BC%CE%AE-2
- https://www.ose.gr/en/25-about-ose/89-σιδηροδρομική-υποδομή-2