By the end of July four new underground Metro stations are set to open in Athens after long delays related to the Siemens scandal which prevented equipment from being tested for years.
The stations are in Ilioupoli, Alimos, Argiroupolis and Elliniko, the site of the old international airport on the city’s southern coast, right near the beachfront, and will serve at least 80,000 passengers daily, while the route Syntagma – Elliniko will be just 14 minutes, much quicker than trying to slog through congested traffic on a popular road leading to the area.
The Ellinikon site has been abandoned for more than a decade and was slated to become the biggest park in Europe and would have allowed Metro passengers to exit into an oasis, but Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’ government is pushing for it to become a mostly concrete development to bring in money, losing the area as green space forever.
According to the schedule, in September the station at Aghia Marina in Haidari will be also completed. The works for the connection of Avenue Vouliagmeni with the esplanade will immediately start as well through the extension of the tram line.
However, in September, digging and railway route from Agia Marina, Haidari to Piraeus will be in process as well.
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