Μake us preferred on Google Thessaloniki’s metro network is set for its first major expansion since the launch of the main line, with the extension to Kalamaria scheduled to officially open on Thursday, Aug. 27.
The inauguration is expected to be attended by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The date has also been confirmed through government statements, while the Municipality of Kalamaria has begun preparations for the ceremony.
The extension is expected to significantly change daily transportation for thousands of residents in eastern Thessaloniki, providing areas that have largely relied on private cars and buses with direct access to the city’s rail-based transit network.
Five new stations
The extension stretches approximately 4.8 kilometers and includes five new stations: Nomarchia, Kalamaria, Aretsou, Nea Krini and Mikra.
The journey from Mikra to central Thessaloniki is expected to take about 15 minutes, while the trip from Mikra to the New Railway Station is projected to take around 25 minutes.
The extension is particularly significant for Kalamaria and surrounding areas, which have dense residential development. The new stations are expected to provide more predictable travel times and reduce reliance on cars and buses.
According to estimates by Elliniko Metro, the extension could attract tens of thousands of passengers each day, while approximately 12,000 private vehicles could potentially be taken off Thessaloniki’s roads. Estimates made at different stages of planning have put expected daily ridership at between about 60,000 and more than 63,000 passengers.
The expected impact is not limited to transportation. Fewer cars on the road could also reduce traffic congestion and vehicle emissions, providing environmental and economic benefits.
Final testing before opening
The extension has required additional testing, technical adjustments and a series of certifications to ensure that its new systems can operate safely alongside the existing metro line.
Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Nikos Tachiaos has previously referred to the challenges involved, saying that the project plans that were initially handed over were incomplete and that additional contracts were needed to finish the work.
The final stage has therefore involved more than completing stations, tunnels and other infrastructure. Testing and certification have been necessary to establish that the entire system can operate safely and reliably.
A step toward western Thessaloniki
The Kalamaria extension is also viewed as another step toward creating a more comprehensive metro network for Thessaloniki.
With five additional stations, the network will expand significantly and create the conditions for a future extension toward the city’s western districts. Kalamaria is therefore not necessarily the final destination of the network’s expansion, but another link in efforts to connect more parts of Thessaloniki through a modern rail-based system.
