Kalambaka railway station

Kalambaka railway station (Greek: Σιδηροδρομικός σταθμός Καλαμπάκας, romanized: Sidirodromikós stathmós Kalambákas) is the main railway station in Kalabaka, in the Trikala regional unit, Thessaly. Opened on 16 June 1886 by the Thessaly Railways (now part of OSE). Today TrainOSE operates Regional Express services to desanations across Greece. It is currently the most northwesterly part of the Greek railway network in operation.

Καλαμπάκα
Kalambaka
Kalambaka station, June 2012
LocationKalambaka 422 00, Greece
Trikala
Greece
Coordinates39°42′11″N 21°37′31″E
Owned byOSE
Line(s)Palaiofarsalos–Kalambaka railway[1]
Platforms2
Tracks3
Train operatorsTrainOSE
Construction
Structure typeat-grade
Platform levels1
ParkingYes
Bicycle facilitiesNo
Disabled access
Other information
StatusStaffed
Websitehttp://www.ose.gr/en/
History
Opened16 June 1886
Rebuilt2001
ElectrifiedNo
Services
Preceding station   TrainOSE   Following station
RegionalTerminus
toward Larissa
TrainOSETerminus
toward Thessaloniki
TrainOSETerminus
toward Athens
ExpressTerminus
Location
Kalambaka
Location within Greece

History

The station open 16 June 1886 by the Thessaly Railways.[2] The original station building (and the line) was designed by the Italian Evaristo de Chirico, (father of Giorgio de Chirico). The line was authorise by the Greek government under the law AMH’/22.6.1882.[3] soon after the liberation of Central Greece from the Ottomans.

After the First World War, the Greek state planned the ambitious construction of several new rail lines and links, including a standard gauge line from Kalambaka on to Kozani and then Veroia creating a conversion of the route from Volos to Kalambaka on standard gauge. In 1927, the relevant decisions were made, starting in 1928, work was carried out on the construction of the new line from Kalambaka. But a year later, it was clear that the project would exceed the estimated costs many times over. In 1932, the construction work was stopped and remains unfinished.[4]In 1955 Thessaly Railways was absorbed into Hellenic State Railways (SEK).[5]

Freight traffic declined sharply when the state-imposed monopoly of OSE for the transport of agricultural products and fertilisers ended in the early 1990s. Many small stations of the network with little passenger traffic were closed down, especially on the mainline section and between Karditsa and Kalampaka. In 2001 the section between Kalampaka and Palaiofarsalos was converted from Narrow gauge (1000 mm) to standard gauge (1435 mm) and physically connected at Palaiofarsalos with the mainline from Athens to Thessaloniki.[6] Since to upgrade, however, travel times improved and the unification of rail gauge allowed direct services, even InterCity services, to link Volos and Kalambaka with Athens and Thessaloniki.

In modern Greek, MP is transliterated as B, not as MB and not as MP. That shows on the station sign, and also on beer labels (MPYRA).

Facilities

The Station has waiting rooms on platform 1. There is a footbridge from platform 1 to platform 2, via stairs or lift. Luggage storage is no longer available, however the station is staffed, with ticket purchasing facilities.

Services

Today, the station is served by direct lines to the rest of Greece, via Palaiofarsalos, served both by intercity trains to Athens, Palaiofarsalos Larissa and Thessaloniki and Proastiakos to Athens.[7] Previously Thessaly Railways operated a narrow gauge service to Volos.[8]

In August 2009 TrainOSE S.A. proceeded to a drastic cutback of passenger services on Thessaly lines.[9] As of Spring 2020 There are ten (five in each direction) Regional services on Palaiofarsalos-Kalambaka Line. In addition, there is one Regional train to Athens from Kalambaka and back (884/885).

Future plans

An extension towards Ioannina and Igoumenitsa has been discussed, but a more northern line from Thessaloniki is currently the preferred trajectory of the so-called Egnatia Railway. However, as of 2020 large investments are unlikely, given the prolonged Greek government-debt crisis.

Station layout

Line structure
to Ioannina
to Palaiofarsalos
L
Ground/Concourse
Customer service Tickets/Exits
Level
L1
Side platform, doors will open on the right
Platform 1 towards (terminus) ←
Platform 2 towards Palaiofarsalos (Trikala) →
Island platform, doors will open on the right





References

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