New Thessaloniki Railway Station

The New Thessaloniki Railway Station (Greek: Νέος Σιδηροδρομικός Σταθμός Θεσσαλονίκης, Neos Sidirodromikos Stathmos Thessalonikis) is the main central passenger railway station and terminal[6] of Thessaloniki, Greece’s second city. It is located in the central quarter of Xirokrini on Monastiriou Street[7][8] And was inaugurated on 12 June 1961,[9] the passenger station replaced the old and much smaller passenger station which now handles the city's cargo rail, hence the name "new railway station" which has been retained.

Νέος Σιδηροδρομικός Σταθμός Θεσσαλονίκης New Thessaloniki Railway Station
The Thessaloniki–Belgrade Express waiting to depart the station in April 2010
Location	28 Monastiriou Street[1] Thessaloniki Central Macedonia Greece
Coordinates	40°38′40″N 22°55′46″E
Owned by	OSE[2]
Line(s)	Thessaloniki–Bitola railway[3] and Thessaloniki–Alexandroupoli railway[4]
Platforms	6
Tracks	9
Train operators	TrainOSE, Serbian Railways, Makedonski Železnici
Connections	[4]
Construction
Structure type	at-grade
Platform levels	2
Parking	Yes
Bicycle facilities	Yes
Disabled access
Other information
Status	Staffed
Station code	THN (Passenger) TH (Freight) DL (Marshalling)
Website	http://www.ose.gr/en/
History
Opened	12 June 1961 (Intercity) 9 September 2007 (Proastiakos)[5]
Electrified	25 kV AC (in 1998)[4]
Services
Preceding station   Proastiakos Thessaloniki   Following station Terminus Line 1 Sindos toward Larissa Terminus Line 2 Sindos toward Florina Preceding station   TrainOSE   Following station Terminus TrainOSE Sindos toward Kalambaka Idomeni toward Belgrade Hellas Terminus Terminus Thessaloniki-Sofia Express Strimon toward Sofia Platy toward Athens InterCity Terminus Terminus InterCity Nea Filadelfeia toward Alexandroupoli Larissa toward Athens InterCity Express Terminus   Future service   Preceding station   Thessaloniki Metro   Following station Terminus Line 1 Dimokratias toward Nea Elvetia Terminus Line 2 Dimokratias toward Mikra
Location
Νέος Σιδηροδρομικός Σταθμός Θεσσαλονίκης New Thessaloniki Railway Station Location within the Thessaloniki urban area

As of 2020, long-distance trains from New Thessaloniki Railway Station are run by TrainOSE to Athens, Alexandroupoli and Larissa; other long-distance operators include. Bulgarian Railways, Serbian Railways and Makedonski Železnici, to Sofia,[10] Belgrade and Skopje respectly.[11] In addition, Proastiakos Thessaloniki runs suburban commuter trains in and around Thessaly and Western Macedonia. Although largely unchanged since the 1960s, it remains the largest and busiest railway station built in Greece, and one of the most important works of modern architecture in the country.[12] A metro station is currently also under construction at the station, to connect the New Thessaloniki Railway Station with the city’s new Metro system.

History

The old Thessaloniki railway station, 27 October 1912

The architectural tender for the New Railway Station, to replace the now outdated Old Thessaloniki railway station was announced in 1935[13] construction began 26 October 1937[14][15] following an international architectural design competition that was carried out at the time and won by German architect Hans Kleinschmidt, a notable runner-up was Nikolaos Mitsakis.[16] Kleinschmidt‘s complete designs were never realised as they were later changed by other architects, but formed the base for what the station would later become. The main concrete shell of the building was completed before the Second World War, but construction was halted when Greece entered the war. Although the building was bombed throughout the early 1940s, it did not sustain heavy damage.

View of the station building in 2018

Following the war, the station saw no development for over 20 years, however the station began to operate in a substandard manner, while the old station continued to function as the city’s railway terminus.[17] In 1958 the project was restarted, headed by Greek architects Molfesi and Papagianni, who made changes to the original design by Kleinschmidt, with a more modernist style. The project was finally completed and handed over to the Ministry of Public Works three years later, and Inaugurated on 12 June 1961,[9][18] On its completion the station, occupied an area of 90 acres,[19] making it one of the largest railway stations in the Balkans.

Electrification was installed in the 1990s with the assistance of the Romanian Railways, and in 1998 the first electric services started to Gevgelija using a leased CFR Class 41 locomotive of the Brașov depot.

The station has remained largely unchanged since that time, although minor additions have occurred, such as the construction of a shopping center adjacent to the waiting hall and the installation of escalators for access to the platforms. In April 2006, the construction works of the Thessaloniki Metro began, with most recent addition to the station the construction of a metro station that is to form part of the New railway station complex.[20] In late 2019 the Metro station was open to the public for guided tours, as part of Open House Thessaloniki.[21]

In February 2011, the station suffered a loss of importance given the suspension of all rail links to international destinations. In 2014, however, international connections were partially restored with twice-daily trains to Sofia, and the reinstatement of the over-night train to Skopje and Belgrade.[22] As of January 2020 the Friendship Express to Istanbul remains suspended.

Future

Apart from the creation of a subway station, the Hellenic Railways Organization, which owns the New railway station, has announced its intentions to give a general overhaul to the station. The plans will include the creation of a 150-bed hotel and regional offices of the Hellenic Railways Organization. Until now, no official statement has been given on the matter.

Services

Between July 2005 and February 2011 the Friendship Express, (an international InterCity train jointly operated by the Turkish State Railways (TCDD) and TrainOSE S.A. linking Istanbul's Sirkeci Terminal, Turkey and Greece terminated at New Thessaloniki Railway Station.

Previous station	National services	Next station
Terminus	Proastiakos commuter rail: Thessaloniki-Larissa	Sindos towards: Larissa
Terminus	Proastiakos commuter rail Thessaloniki-Edessa(-Florina)	Sindos towards: Edessa
Terminus	TrainOSE InterCity rail: Thessaloniki-Athens	Platy towards: Athens
Terminus	TrainOSE: Thessaloniki-Alexandroupoli	Filadelfeia towards: Alexandroupoli
Terminus	TrainOSE: Thessaloniki-Kalampaka	Sindos towards: Kalampaka
Previous station	International services	Next station
Terminus	TrainOSE/BDŽ: Thessaloniki-Sofia	Kilkis towards: Sofia
Terminus	TrainOSE/MŽ/ŽS: Thessaloniki-Skopje-Belgrade	Polykastro towards: Belgrade
Previous station	Suspended services	Next station
Terminus	TrainOSE/TCDD: Thessaloniki-Istanbul (Friendship Express)	Kilkis towards: Istanbul

Facilities

The Station currently features large waiting areas, a central hall with cafes,[23] restaurants, a small chapel and a shopping centre within a 1960s era building. The staffed station has staffed ticket offices and luggage lockers.[24] There is a taxi rank and Parking in the forecourt. On the platforms, seating is available under the original 1960s modernist canopies.

Discussions are underway for the expansion of the station and a general overhaul, which will also include a hotel and a revamp of the central offices of the OSE for northern Greece.[25]

Transportation

OASTH Bus 01X
KTEL–Makedonia Airport
0:00 Thessaloniki Bus Station (KTEL) 0:04 Balta 0:07 Zografou New Railway Station (N. Sid. Stathmos ) 0:10 Kolomvou 0:12 Aristotelous Square 0:16 Kamara 0:19 Agia Fotini/University of Macedonia University of Macedonia (Panepistimio ) 0:22 Dimarhiako Megaro 0:23 Faliro 0:24 Laografiko Mousio 0:26 Megaro Mousikis/25 Martiou 25 Martiou 0:28 Periferiaki Enotita Thessalonikis 0:31 Krikela 0:35 Agora 0:44 Astinomia 0:46 Makedonia Airport Departures 0:49 Makedonia Airport Arrivals

Currently, the only means of transportation to and from the New railway station are the public bus services of the Thessaloniki Urban Transport Organization (OASTH) and by hiring a private taxi. Line 78 of OASTH connects the railway station with Macedonia InterCity Bus Terminal (KTEL) and Macedonia International Airport. A Thessaloniki Metro station is currently under construction at the New railway station, which upon completion, will connect the train station with the city's metro network. The subway station is set to open in 2014.

The station provides minimal parking space, although two new underground parking facilities, with four floors each are currently under construction as part of the Thessaloniki Metro project. When completed, they will provide parking space for 450 and 600 cars respectively, with a total capacity of 1050 cars.[26]

The station interior and approach

• 
  Platforms of the Thessaloniki station, from inside the station
• 
  Siemens/Henschel HellasSprinter electric locomotive 120-016 of OSE enters Thessaloniki New Passenger Station with train 335 from Belgrade
• 
  Krupp Y60 diesel locomotive A-104 (similar to DB Class V 60) of OSE at Thessaloniki New Passenger Station
• 
  One of the 1960s modernist platform canopies

See also

• Thessaloniki Urban Transport Organization
• Railways of Greece
• Hellenic Railways Organization
• TrainOSE

References

1. https://www.gtp.gr/TDirectoryDetails.asp?id=77264
2. https://www.gtp.gr/TDirectoryDetails.asp?id=77264
3. http://www.trainose.gr/en/passenger-activity/suburban-railway/thessaloniki-suburban-railway/
4. "OSE - 2017 Network Statement Annexes".
5. http://www.trainose.gr/επιβατικό-έργο/υπηρεσίες-για-τον-επιβάτη/υπηρεσίες-στο-σταθμό/
6. https://thessaloniki.travel/en/useful-information/how-to-get-to-thessaloniki/train-suburban
7. https://thessaloniki.travel/en/useful-information/how-to-get-to-thessaloniki/train-suburban
8. https://www.greeka.com/greece-travel/trains/
9. "Αναμόρφωσις Σιδηροδρομικού Σταθμού Θεσσαλονίκης" (PDF). 1961. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
10. https://rail.cc/en/blog/thessaloniki-sofia-train
11. https://thessaloniki.travel/en/useful-information/how-to-get-to-thessaloniki/train-suburban
12. https://www.voria.gr/article/thessaloniki-se-dio-chronia-to-neo-emporiko-ston-sidirodromiko-stathmo
13. http://photodentro.edu.gr/aggregator/lo/photodentro-aggregatedcontent-8526-2813
14. http://photodentro.edu.gr/aggregator/lo/photodentro-aggregatedcontent-8526-2813
15. Πηγή: https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=search&pto=aue&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=el&sp=nmt4&u=https://www.voria.gr/article/thessaloniki-se-dio-chronia-to-neo-emporiko-ston-sidirodromiko-stathmo&usg=ALkJrhg4-JUwm2R_lHOU2jP5sF8PJLZHcw
16. https://www.benaki.org/index.php?option=com_collectionitems&view=collectionitem&id=146237&Itemid=&lang=el
17. Πηγή: https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=search&pto=aue&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=el&sp=nmt4&u=https://www.voria.gr/article/thessaloniki-se-dio-chronia-to-neo-emporiko-ston-sidirodromiko-stathmo&usg=ALkJrhg4-JUwm2R_lHOU2jP5sF8PJLZHcw
18. http://photodentro.edu.gr/aggregator/lo/photodentro-aggregatedcontent-8526-2813
19. Πηγή: https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=search&pto=aue&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=el&sp=nmt4&u=https://www.voria.gr/article/thessaloniki-se-dio-chronia-to-neo-emporiko-ston-sidirodromiko-stathmo&usg=ALkJrhg4-JUwm2R_lHOU2jP5sF8PJLZHcw
20. https://www.ametro.gr/?page_id=152
21. https://www.thessalonikiguide.gr/event/open-house-stathmos-metro-sidirodromikos-stathmos/
22. Επανέρχονται τα διεθνή δρομολόγια της ΤΡΑΙΝΟΣΕ από τις 10 Μαΐου (in Greek). Athens Transport. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
23. https://terkenlis.gr/καταστήματα/σιδηροδρομικός-σταθμός/
24. http://www.trainose.gr/επιβατικό-έργο/υπηρεσίες-για-τον-επιβάτη/υπηρεσίες-στο-σταθμό/
25. "Αλλάζει ο Σιδηροδρομικός Σταθμός της Θεσσαλονίκης". Newsfilter. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
26. Ιστορικό (in Greek). 14 September 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2011.