P.A.Th.E./P.

P.A.Th.E./P (Greek: Π.Α.Θ.Ε./Π., Πάτρα - Αθήνα - Θεσσαλονίκη - Ειδομένη/Προμαχώνας), which stands for Patras–Athens–Thessaloniki–Idomeni/Promachonas is a higher-speed rail line in Greece which is partly completed and partly under construction. After full completion, the journey between Athens and Thessaloniki is expected to last three and a half hours.

P.A.Th.E./P. Π.Α.Θ.Ε./Π.
Overview
Status	Operational (partly under construction)
Owner	OSE
Locale	Greece
Termini	Piraeus Patras Thessaloniki Idomeni Promachonas
Service
Type	Higher-speed rail
Operator(s)	TrainOSE
Technical
Line length	approx. 700 km
Number of tracks	Double track throughout
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Operating speed	160 km/h (99 mph) (average) 200 km/h (124 mph) (highest)
Route map Athens S.K.A. Corinth Aigio Patras Oinoi Thebes Livadia Leianokladi Domokos Palaiofarsalos Larisa Katerini Platy Thessaloniki Polykastro Idomeni Kilkis Strymonas Promachonas

History

Development of a modern rail network for Greece has been a major goal since the 1990s. In 1996, construction of what is currently known as the P.A.Th.E./P. was given the go-ahead. The line, which should have opened by 2004, will link Patras, Athens and Thessaloniki with the neighboring countries Republic of North Macedonia and Bulgaria via the border stations at Idomeni and Promachonas, respectively.

The project has been faced with delays because of construction and finance. Although 2004 should have been the year the modern electrified rail network opened, opening dates were pushed back many times and, currently, 2018 is the deadline. This does not mean that the line is fully under construction. The Domokos to Thessaloniki part opened, although unelectrified, in 2004, and the Athens to Kiato line in 2005 up to Corinth and in 2007 up to Kiato, once again, unelectrified. Both lines where electrified between 2010 and 2011. In 2020, the Kiato–Aigio section opened.[1]

Sections

The line is further split into several sections. These are:[2]

Line	Speed	Length	Type of works	Construction began	Expected start of revenue services	Electrification
Athens - Oinoi - Tithorea	up to 200 km/h[3]	156 km	Electrification	2015	—	2016
Tithorea - Domokos	160 – 200 km/h[4]	106  km	New line	1996	January 2019	Line fully electrified at opening
Domokos - Thessaloniki	up to 200 km/h[3]	232.5 km	New line with old, upgraded sections	1996	2004	2011
Thessaloniki - Idomeni	160 km/h	71 km	Upgraded line with new sections	2007	2018[5]	Line fully electrified at opening
Thessaloniki - Promachonas	160 km/h		Upgraded line	2016 or 2017	TBA	TBA
Athens International Airport - Kiato	up to 200 km/h[6]	105 km[6]	New line	1998	2005 (up to Corinth), 2007 (full line)	2010
Kiato - Rododafni	150 – 200 km/h[7]	72 km	New line	2006	2017	2020
Rododafni - Psathopyrgos	100 – 150 km/h[8]	27.6 km[8]	New line	2012	2018	TBA
Psathopyrgos - Rhion	TBA	TBA	TBA	2018	2021[9]	Line fully electrified at opening
Patras Link	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA	2022 or after	Line fully electrified at opening

Further proposals

In March 2018, ErgOSE announced the intention to upgrade the closed Patras-Kalamata metre gauge railway to standard gauge, with maximum speed of 160 km/h.[10] This would presumably take place once the Athens-Patras section is opened.

Although still unofficial, these sections may well be constructed in the future. They have no timetable of construction and are not being forwarded yet. Most of them are in the area around Athens.

Line	Reason for construction
Thriasion - Thiva Line	This line further will cut journey times by 30 minutes and supplement the existing Athens to Thiva Line, providing an alternative route for passenger and freight trains as well as relieving what is expected to become a major bottleneck on the Greek Rail Network.
Acharnes Bypass	A tunnel that will reroute all of the regional, intercity and freight trains outside of the Athens suburb of Acharnes, increasing speeds and free the current line exclusively for commuter train usage. This project will likely be supplemented by an upgrading of the Athens to Oinoi line.
Upgrading of the Athens - Oinoi Line	This project will upgrade the current line or create a new, parallel line. It has the same goal as the Elefsina-Thiva Line and will not be constructed if the aforementioned line gets the green light.
Platy Bypass	A diversion of the line eliminating the village of Platy, its station as well as a sharp curve just before it. The proposal was never seriously considered because the journey time cut would not be as much as the desired and because it would eliminate Platy Station, a major station for passengers transferring to regional trains.

Rolling stock

Passenger services

Currently, the Rolling Stock used for passenger services on the line varies. Diesel powered trains include the Stadler GTW are in operation around Athens, serving the largely unelectrified network of the city, while MAN 2000 DMUs and OSE Class 520 can be seen at rare occasions. The Class 220 Locomotive alongside railcars currently serves all Intercity and Higher Speed services on the unelectrified sections of the lines, whereas Class 120 Locomotives pull the cars on the electrified sections. Regional and Commuter services on the electrified sections are exclusively operated by Siemens Desiro EMUs. Although the 30 Class 120 Electric locomotives are enough to provide long distance services on the network, regional rolling stock is going to be needed, since the Desiro trains are not going to be enough. Purchasing new rolling stock is the obvious choice, however, the difficult financial situation, it has also been purposed to convert some if not all Stadler GTWs to electric tracion. Trenitalia, the new owner of TrainOSE, the sole operator of passenger trains in Greece announced in 2017 that new rolling stock, probably italian, is going to be ordered sometime in the future.

In September 2017, Trenitalia announced that the V250 trains, formerly operated on the Fyra service between Amsterdam, Brussels and Breda may be used for services between Athens and Thessaloniki.[11] However, in August 2018, Trenitalia instead opted for Frecciargento class ETR 485 trains to operate on the Athens-Thessaloniki line in 2018-2019.[12]

It is also possible that Trenitalia may also use Frecciarossa trains for services on the Athens-Thessaloniki line in the future, thus reducing travel time between the two cities to 2.5 hours.

Cargo services

For many years, Class A 501-510 Locomotives built by MLW have been the main traction for freight services in Greece and are probably going to remain for many years. Class 220 Locomotives are frequently seen hauling cargo trains, although they are not as powerful and are optimized for passenger services. The only Electric Locomotive of Greece, the Class 120, is also seen hauling cargo services mainly on the Thessaloniki to Idomeni Line, but it is also optimized for passenger transportation.

References

1. "Kiato – Rododafni line in Greece opens following safety checks". International Railway Journal. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
2. "Railway Infrastructure". www.ose.gr. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
3. "Upgrading of Oinoi-Tithorea and Domokos-Thessaloniki sections". Ergose (in Greek). Archived from the original on 2017-09-18. Retrieved 2017-06-13.
4. "Tithorea - Domokos". Ergose (in Greek). Archived from the original on 2017-02-25. Retrieved 2017-06-13.
5. Μεταμόρφωση της ΤΡΑΙΝΟΣΕ από την Ferrovie με 1 δις ευρώ επενδύσεις και στόχο τις επιβατικές μεταφορές. ypodomes.com (in Greek). July 19, 2016.
6. "SKA - Kiato". Ergose (in Greek). Archived from the original on 2017-09-29. Retrieved 2017-06-13. Design Speed 200 km/h after Thriassio Pedio
7. "Kiato - Rododafni". Ergose (in Greek). Design Speed of 200 km/h for Kiato-Lykoporia and 150 km/h for Lykoporia-Rododaphni
8. "Rododaphni (Aigio) – Psathopirgos". Ergose (in Greek). Archived from the original on 2017-09-18. Retrieved 2017-06-13.
9. Έληξε το πολυετές θρίλερ. Η ΕΡΓΟΣΕ υπέγραψε με την GD Infrastrutture για το Ψαθόπυργος – Ρίο [The multi-year thriller ended. ERGOSE signed with GD Infrastrutture for Psathopyrgos - Rio]. Metafores Press (in Greek). 6 August 2017.
10. "PATRA – PIRGOS – KALAMATA". ErgOSE.gr. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
11. Duursma, Mark (1 September 2017). "Italianen willen groeien in Nederlands openbaar vervoer" [Italians want to grow in Dutch public transport]. nrc.nl (in Dutch).
12. "Primi passi verso la Grecia per l'ETR.485-31" [First steps toward Greece for ETR.485-31 trainset]. ferrovie.it (in Italian). 14 August 2018.