Μake us preferred on Google The Thessaloniki Metro‘s long-awaited extension eastwards to the Kalamaria district entered its final testing phase on Thursday, with full trial operations beginning across the new section of the network ahead of the start of commercial service.
Deputy Infrastructure and Transport Minister Nikos Tachiaos said the overnight, passenger-free trial runs represent the last and most critical stage before the extension receives safety certification and opens to the public.
The tests will simulate full-day operations, with new trains and all supporting infrastructure operating under real-world conditions to verify the safety and reliability of the automated system. Initially, the trials will take place at night to avoid disrupting service on the existing metro line.
“The top priority is safety,” Thessaloniki native Tachiaos said, noting that the Kalamaria project is not a simple extension but a new branch line incorporating a junction and 15 fully automated trains, requiring seamless integration of systems supplied by different manufacturers.
The government is also moving ahead with an integrated ticketing system that will allow passengers to use a single fare across the Thessaloniki Metro and the city’s bus network. Authorities are also planning to expand tap-and-pay technology, enabling passengers to travel using contactless bank cards while automatically applying fare discounts for frequent users.
Looking beyond the Kalamaria extension, Tachiaos said preparations are underway for the metro’s planned expansion toward northwest Thessaloniki, with a cost-benefit study being commissioned to support future financing applications.
Athens Metro Line 4
He also addressed work on Athens Metro Line 4, confirming that construction in the congested central Kypseli district remains temporarily suspended while additional technical and geological studies are completed following concerns about cracks in nearby buildings. He said no structural problems have been identified so far and reiterated that any repair costs would be borne by the project’s contractor rather than residents.
Kypseli Residents Send Second Legal Notice Over Metro Works.
The government’s target for completing Line 4 remains 2032.
The latest milestone follows the successful launch of Thessaloniki’s fully automated metro network late last year.
Over the past year, the government has described the Kalamaria extension as the system’s first major expansion, adding five new stations to improve connections with the city’s southeast districts while laying the groundwork for further extensions intended to transform public transport across Greece’s second-largest city.
