Larissa–Volos railway
Volos station 1995
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerHellenic Railways Organisation[1]
LocaleGreece (Thessaly)
Termini
Stations7 (1 out of use)
Service
TypeRegional railway
ServicesRegional
Operator(s)Hellenic Train
History
Opened1884 (metre gauge)
1960 (standard gauge)
Technical
Line length60.76 km (37.75 mi)[2]
Number of tracksSingle track[2]
CharacterSecondary
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
ElectrificationNo[2]
Operating speed100 km/h (62 mph) (highest)
Route map
Larissa-Volos railway
km
Line to Thessaloniki
0.0
 Larissa
 Line to Athens
23.4
 Kypseli
29.1
 Armenio
32.9
 Stefanovikeio
 to Palaiofarsalos
41.5
 Velestino
55.6
 Melissiatika
61.2
 Volos

The railway from Larissa to Volos (Greek: Σιδηροδρομική γραμμή Λαρίσης - Βόλου, romanized: Sidirodromikí grammí Lárisas - Vólou) is a standard-gauge railway that connects Larissa with the coastal port city of Volos in Thessaly, Greece.[2] It is Thessaly's most important regional line after the Palaiofarsalos–Kalambaka railway. As a branch line of the Piraeus–Platy railway, its western terminus at Larissa provides connections to Athens and Thessaloniki.

Course

The line branches off at Larissa and continues to the southeast through Kypseli, Armenio and Stefanovikeio before heading south to Velestino, where it meets the former metre-gauge line to Kalambaka. It then advances eastwards from Melissiatika to its eastern terminus at Volos.

Stations

The stations on the Larissa–Volos railway service are:

History

Construction of the metre-gauge railway began in 1882, and the line was inaugurated on 22 April 1884 as part of the Thessaly Railways.[3] The project was designed and led by Italian-born Evaristo de Chirico, father of the famous painter Giorgio de Chirico, and Greek banker Theodoros Mavrogordatos. The original route was somewhat different from the current one, passing through the Volos quarry and proceeding to the centre of the city, where it met the narrow-gauge Pelion railway. In 1960, the decision was made to convert the line to standard gauge,[3] thus speeding up travel times by allowing through traffic to bypass Larissa via the Piraeus–Platy railway.

Services

The Larissa–Volos railway is used by the following passenger services:

  • TrainOSE regional service between Larissa and Volos. The journey time is 48 minutes.[4]

Future

The line is currently being upgraded with the installation of railway signalling, electrification and ETCS systems.[5][6] At an estimated cost of €71.24 million,[6] it is one of a number of "new-generation projects" aimed at improving rail connectivity across Greece.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Home". gaiaose.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Network Statement Validity: 2020 ANNEXES". Athens: OSE. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  3. 1 2 "The history of Thessaly Railways". Thessaly Museum Railways. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  4. ↑ "TRAINOSE ticketing". TrainOSE. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  5. ↑ "Railway Infrastructure". Athens: OSE. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  6. 1 2 "Signalling – Electrification of Larissa – Volos". ERGOSE. 5 September 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  7. ↑ "ERGOSE's new-generation railway projects in Greece". Railway PRO. 19 December 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
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