Athens is showing signs of a recovery in public transport usage, with passenger traffic increasing for the first time in years, according to figures released by the Athens Urban Transport Organization (OASA) for the first four months of 2026.
The report points to a combination of more frequent services, fleet upgrades and intensified efforts to combat fare evasion as key factors behind the improvement.
More Bus Services on the Road
Between January and April 2026, bus operator OSY recorded a 5% increase in completed routes compared with the same period a year earlier, reaching 1.63 million services — around 83,000 more than in the first four months of 2025.
Vehicle kilometers also rose by 3.5%, surpassing 28.3 million kilometers.
According to OASA, the increase is directly linked to the largest fleet renewal program currently underway in Athens, as well as gradual improvements in service frequency on 15 major bus routes.
Metro and Tram Networks Also Expand
A similar trend was recorded across Athens’ rail-based transport system, including the metro, suburban electric railway and tram network.
Total vehicle kilometers operated by STASY increased by more than 2% year-on-year, exceeding 17.1 million kilometers during the first four months of 2026.
Metro Line 3 posted the strongest growth, with transport activity rising by 4.6% compared with the same period last year.
OASA management attributed part of the increase in passenger demand to the introduction of all-night metro services on Saturday evenings, which it says significantly expanded transport capacity and encouraged greater use of rail services.
Transit officials also reported improvements in train maintenance operations, resulting in fewer breakdowns, higher vehicle availability and more reliable service intervals.
Ticket Validations Climb Sharply
Passenger activity continued to grow across the network, with ticket and travel card validations exceeding 113.5 million during the January-April period.
The most significant increase was recorded on bus services, where validations rose by 25% compared with the same period in 2025. OASA attributed the rise largely to a doubling of fare-evasion inspections and increased use of road-based public transport.
Meanwhile, ticket validations on metro, tram and suburban rail services increased by more than 9%.
Fleet Modernization Continues
According to OASA, 1,076 new technology buses have already been added to the OSY fleet.
The company currently operates an active fleet of approximately 1,540 vehicles, including reserve buses and vehicles approaching retirement.
Transit authorities expect further fleet expansion over the next two years through a series of procurement programs. Planned acquisitions include:
- 80 electric buses and 40 in-motion charging (IMC) trolleybuses;
- 50 hydrogen-powered buses;
- 101 electric buses financed through the Social Climate Fund;
- 120 electric buses to be supplied through a 10-year leasing agreement.
Based on the current procurement schedule, a further 391 vehicles are expected to enter service over the next two years. Combined with the buses already delivered, the number of new-generation vehicles in Athens’ fleet would reach approximately 1,467.
