Line A1 (Athens Suburban Railway)

Line A1 (Piraeus–Airport)
An OSE class 460 train in the median strip of Attiki Odos, bound for Athens Airport.
Overview
Service type	Commuter rail
Status	Operating
Locale	Greece (Attica)
First service	30 July 2004;20 years ago (2004-07-30)
Current operator(s)	Hellenic Train
Former operator(s)	TrainOSE
Website	www.hellenictrain.gr
Route
Termini	Piraeus Athens Airport
Distance travelled	48.2 km (30.0 mi)[ full citation needed ]
Average journey time	1 hour and 3 minutes
Service frequency	18 per-day
Line(s) used	Piraeus–Platy Athens Airport–Patras
Technical
Rolling stock	OSE class 460 (EMU)
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)
Track owner(s)	OSE (Lines), Gaiose (Buildings) [1]
Route map Legend   Athens Airport Koropi Paiania–Kantza Pallini OSE│Elliniko Metro Plakentias Line 3 via Syntagma Pentelis Kifisias Neratziotissa Irakleio Metamorfosi Line A2 to Ano Liosia Line A3 to Chalcis Line A4 to Kiato   Kato Acharnes Pyrgos Vasilissis Agioi Anargyroi Athens Rouf Tavros Rentis Lefka   Piraeus Key planned interchange Athens Metro other lines This diagram: view talk edit

Line A1 is an Athens Suburban Railway (Proastiakos) line in Athens, Greece, managed by Hellenic Train. The service connects Piraeus with the Airport. The line shares a part of its course with lines A2 and A4 as well as Metro line 3, but also with line A3 at Athens. The first Suburban line was inaugurated on 30 July 2004, using 17 OSE Class 560 DMUs between Larissa Station (Now Athens) and the Airport. ^[2] With the completion of the electrification of the sections of the line to Athens in 2017 and Piraeus in 2018. ^{[3] [4]} The line now exclusively uses OSE class 460 EMUs rolling stock.

History

The initial planning phase of the service provided for the use of express trains (Airport Express) from Piraeus to the Airport with intermediate stations only in Athens, Agioi Anargyroi, Neratziotissa, Kifissias and Dukisis Placentias, and with a journey time of half an hour. In the end, however, the need to connect the capital's international airport with the city's most central station, Syntagma, imposed the joint travel of Suburban and Metro from Doukissis Plakentias to the Airport.^{[ citation needed ]}

The first section of what is now Line A1 opened on 30 July 2004: the standard gauge service ran from Athens to the Airport, using Class 560 diesel multiple units. ^[5] Electric train services using Class 460 electric multiple units were introduced between Neratziotissa and the Airport in 2006. On 4 June 2007, diesel services were extended south from Athens to Piraeus, replacing the relevant part of the metre-gauge railway of the Piraeus–Patras railway that closed in August 2005. ^[6]

Direct suburban railway services from Piraeus and Athens to the Airport were suspended on 6 July 2008, forcing passengers to change at Ano Liosia and (until 14 February 2009) Neratziotissa. ^{[7] [8]} Direct services were restored with the electrification of the Piraeus–Platy railway from Agioi Anargyroi to Athens on 30 July 2017, and then to Piraeus on 1 February 2018, when the last diesel services on what is now Line A1 ceased. ^{[9] [10]}

Route

On the Airport–Patras segment, Lines A2 and Athens Metro Line 3 shares the route from the Airport up to Metamorfosi and Pallini respectively. However, most Metro Line 3 trains start or terminate at Doukissis Plakentias, with a through service to the Airport leaving once every 36 minutes. ^[11]

Stations

The spelling of the station names on this table, in English and Greek, are according to the signage.

†	Terminal station
#	Interchange station

Station English	Station Greek	Regional unit	Opened	Interchanges and notes	Position
Piraeus  †#	Πειραιάς	Piraeus	30 June 1884 [12] [6] rebuilt 2007	Interchange with Athens Metro Line 3.	37°56′57″N23°38′36″E / 37.949095°N 23.643430°E / 37.949095; 23.643430 (Piraeus)
Lefka	Λεύκα	Piraeus	30 June 1884 [12] [6] rebuilt 2007		37°57′19″N23°39′14″E / 37.955375°N 23.653910°E / 37.955375; 23.653910 (Lefka)
Rentis	Ρέντης	Piraeus	30 June 1884 [12] [6] rebuilt 2007		37°57′44″N23°40′07″E / 37.962320°N 23.668540°E / 37.962320; 23.668540 (Rentis)
Tauros	Ταύρος	South Athens	1 October 2014 [13]	This station opened after the original route.	37°58′07″N23°41′36″E / 37.968745°N 23.693320°E / 37.968745; 23.693320 (Tauros)
Rouf	Ρουφ	Central Athens South Athens	30 June 1884 [12] [6] rebuilt 2007		37°58′25″N23°42′15″E / 37.973735°N 23.704055°E / 37.973735; 23.704055 (Rouf)
Athina  #	Αθήνα	Central Athens	8 March 1904 [14]	Interchange with Hellenic Train, and Athens Metro Line 2 at Larissa Station.	37°59′33″N23°43′13″E / 37.992365°N 23.720215°E / 37.992365; 23.720215 (Athina)
Agioi Anargyroi  #	Άγιοι Ανάργυροι	West Athens	8 August 2010 [15]	Interchange with Line A3 to Chalcis. This station opened after the original route.	38°01′18″N23°43′06″E / 38.021770°N 23.718380°E / 38.021770; 23.718380 (Agioi Anargyroi)
Pyrgos Vasilissis	Πύργος Βασιλίσσης	West Athens	27 February 2014 [16]	This station opened after the original route.	38°02′23″N23°43′39″E / 38.039610°N 23.727395°E / 38.039610; 23.727395 (Pyrgos Vasilissis)
Kato Acharnai  #	Κάτω Αχαρναί	East Attica	27 February 2014 [16]	Interchange with Line A4 to Kiato. This station opened after the original route.	38°03′15″N23°43′57″E / 38.054065°N 23.732580°E / 38.054065; 23.732580 (Kato Acharnai)
Metamorfosi  #	Μεταμόρφωση	North Athens	8 August 2010 [15]	Interchange with Line A2 to Ano Liosia. This station opened after the original route.	38°03′36″N23°45′21″E / 38.060135°N 23.755730°E / 38.060135; 23.755730 (Metamorfosi)
Iraklio	Ηράκλειο	North Athens	30 July 2004 [5]		38°03′26″N23°46′17″E / 38.057155°N 23.771350°E / 38.057155; 23.771350 (Iraklio)
Neratziotissa [a]  #	Νερατζιώτισσα	North Athens	6 August 2004 [18] [19]	Interchange with Athens Metro Line 1. This station opened after the original route.	38°02′42″N23°47′35″E / 38.045120°N 23.792945°E / 38.045120; 23.792945 (Neratziotissa)
Kifisias	Κηφισίας	North Athens	30 July 2004 [5]		38°02′32″N23°48′12″E / 38.042100°N 23.803465°E / 38.042100; 23.803465 (Kifisias)
Pentelis	Πεντέλης	North Athens	21 February 2007 [20]	This station opened after the original route.	38°02′00″N23°49′19″E / 38.033460°N 23.821965°E / 38.033460; 23.821965 (Pentelis)
Plakentias [b]  #	Πλακεντίας	North Athens	30 July 2004 [5]	Interchange with Athens Metro Line 3 at Doukissis Plakentias.	38°01′29″N23°50′02″E / 38.024720°N 23.833910°E / 38.024720; 23.833910 (Plakentias)
Pallini	Παλλήνη	East Attica	30 July 2004 [5]		38°00′18″N23°52′11″E / 38.005100°N 23.869825°E / 38.005100; 23.869825 (Pallini)
Paiania–Kantza	Παιανία - Κάντζα	East Attica	30 July 2004 [5]		37°59′04″N23°52′12″E / 37.984485°N 23.870020°E / 37.984485; 23.870020 (Paiania–Kantza)
Koropi	Κορωπί	East Attica	30 July 2004 [5]		37°54′46″N23°53′45″E / 37.912860°N 23.895860°E / 37.912860; 23.895860 (Koropi)
Athens International Airport  †	Διεθνής Αερολιμένας Αθηνών	East Attica	30 July 2004 [5]	This station is operated by Athens International Airport S.A.	37°56′13″N23°56′41″E / 37.936890°N 23.944700°E / 37.936890; 23.944700 (Athens International Airport)

See also

• Hellenic Railways Organization
• Hellenic Train
• Proastiakos

Notes

1. Nerantziotissa is signed as "Nerantziotissa" (Greek: Nerantziotissa) on the Athens Metro. ^[17]
2. Doukissis Plakentias is signed as "Doukissis Plakentias" (Greek: Δουκίσσης Πλακεντίας) on the Athens Suburban Railway.

References

1. "Home". gaiaose.com.
2. Athens Suburban and Regional Railway. "Athens Suburban and Regional Railway | Hellenic Train". Hellenic Train. Hellenic Train. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
3. "Ηλεκτροκίνηση 3 Γέφυρες – Πειραιάς". ΕΡΓΟΣΕ. 5 September 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
4. "ΣΚΑ – 3 Γέφυρες". ΕΡΓΟΣΕ. 19 March 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
5. Chatziioannidou, Efis (31 July 2004). "Και ο προαστιακός σιδηρόδρομος μπήκε σε τροχιά" [And the commuter rail gets on track]. Kathimerini (in Greek). Athens: Kathimerini Publishing. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
6. "Πειραιάς – Σπάτα σε 50 λεπτά με τον Προαστιακό Σιδηρόδρομο" [Piraeus-Spata in 50 minutes by Suburban Railway]. in.gr (in Greek). Athens: Alter Ego Media. 1 June 2007. Archived from the original on 15 March 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
7. "Νέα Δρομολόγια Προαστιακού Σιδηροδρόμου" [New Suburban Railway Timetable]. Proastiakos (in Greek). Athens: OSE. 3 July 2008. Archived from the original on 6 July 2008. Retrieved 6 August 2024. "Πρόγραμμα Δρομολογίων" [Programme Timetable](PDF). Proastiakos (in Greek and English). Athens: OSE. 27 June 2008. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
8. "Μεταβολή Δρομολογίων λόγω έργων" [Changed timetables due to works]. Proastiakos (in Greek). Athens: OSE. 12 February 2009. Archived from the original on 1 June 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2024. "Χάρτης και δρομολόγια" [Map and timetable](PDF). Proastiakos (in Greek and English). Athens: OSE. 29 August 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 December 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
9. "Σημαντικές αλλαγές στον Προαστιακό Σιδηρόδρομο Αθήνας από 30/07/2017" [Important changes for the Athens Suburban Railway from 30/07/2017]. TrainOSE (in Greek). Athens: OSE. July 2017. Archived from the original on 31 July 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2024. "Προαστιακός Σιδηρόδρομος Αθηνών" [Athens Suburban Railway (map)](PDF). TrainOSE (in Greek and English). Athens: OSE. July 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
10. "Απευθείας δρομολόγια Πειραιάς–Αεροδρόμιο & Πειραιάς–Κιάτο από 1η Φεβρουαρίου. Επιπλέον δρομολόγια μεταξύ ΣΚΑ–Κορωπί και αντίστροφα για την καλύτερη εξυπηρέτηση των εργαζομένων" [Direct services for Piraeus–Airport and Piraeus–Kiato from 1 February. Additional services between SKA–Koropi and vice versa for the better service of the employees]. TrainOSE (in Greek). Athens. 30 January 2018. Archived from the original on 3 February 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2024. "Προαστιακές Γραμμές Αθηνών" [Athens Suburban Railway Lines]. TrainOSE (in Greek). Athens. 9 February 2018. Archived from the original on 9 February 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
11. "Timetable" (PDF). STASY (in Greek). Athens. 17 October 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
12. Οι Ελληνικοί Σιδηρόδρομοι[The Greek Railways] (in Greek). Athens: Militos. 1997. p. 178. ISBN   9608460077.
13. "Σε λειτουργία από την Τετάρτη ο σταθμός Ταύρος του Προαστιακού" [Tavros station of the Suburban Railway in operation from Wednesday]. Ta Nea (in Greek). Athens: Alter Ego Media. 30 September 2014. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
14. Οι Ελληνικοί Σιδηρόδρομοι[The Greek Railways] (in Greek). Athens: Militos. 1997. p. 77. ISBN   9608460077.
15. "Δύο νέοι σταθμοί του Προαστιακού σε Μεταμόρφωση και Αγίους Αναργύρους" [Two new Suburban Railway stations in Metamorfosi and Agioi Anargyroi]. Proto Thema (in Greek). Athens: Tassos Karamitsos. 8 August 2010. Archived from the original on 4 February 2025. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
16. "Άνοιξαν οι σταθμοί Πύργος Βασιλίσσης και Κάτω Αχαρναί του Προαστιακού" [Pyrgos Vasilissis and Kato Acharnai stations of the Suburban Railway have opened]. Athens Transport (in Greek). 27 February 2014. Archived from the original on 6 July 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
17. "3 εικόνες ντροπής από το σταθμό Νερατζιώτισσα του Προαστιακού" [3 images of shame from the Neratziotissa Suburban station]. Athens Transport (in Greek). 15 January 2019. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
18. "Δελτία Τύπου & Ανακοινώσεις" [Press Releases & Announcements]. Athens Piraeus Electric Railways (in Greek). Athens. 5 August 2004. Archived from the original on 10 October 2004. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
19. "Οι ολυμπιακές συγκοινωνίες της Αθήνας του 2004" [Athens 2004 Olympic transport]. Athens Transport (in Greek). 13 August 2019. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
20. "Ανοιξε ο σταθμός του Προαστιακού στην Πεντέλη" [The Suburban Railway station in Penteli has opened]. in.gr (in Greek). Athens: Alter Ego Media. 21 February 2007. Archived from the original on 4 February 2025. Retrieved 4 February 2025.