Greece Public Transport Strike to Disrupt Travel on May 1st

Public transport services across Greece, including airport transfers, intercity bus and train routes, and ships and ferries will either come to a halt or run on limited schedule on Sunday, May 1st due to union strikes in honor of Labor Day.

Commuters must prepare for disruptions in their travel plans, as all metro and tram lines in Athens will be out of service throughout the day, and buses and trains will operate on reduced itineraries since unions members are launching 24-hour strike actions.

The national holiday of May 1st, which falls on Sunday this year, had been transferred by the government to Monday May 2nd.

Therefore, besides the strikes and reduced itineraries caused by the strike on May 1st, Athens public transport will also be affected on Monday, May 2nd, as it will be operating on a Sunday/national holiday instead of a weekday schedule.

Athens strike brings metro and tram to a standstill

While the Athens metro and tram will come to a total standstill the entire of Sunday, May 1st, buses and trolleys will operate between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.. However, the vehicles will begin to withdraw as early as 8 p.m..

The disruption to metro line 3 will also upset services between central Athens and the international airport.

Ships and ferries of all categories will remain docked at ports throughout Greece due to the 24-hour strike announced by the Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO).

Train itineraries throughout the country will be affected by union actions, as well, as the National Federation of Railroad Employees called for a 24-hour strike on Sunday.

Many routes have been cancelled and travelers who had booked their tickets online were notified of their options through their contact details.

An updated schedule with their start times was released for intercity trains, including connections with buses, which will be running. Any schedules missing from the list have been cancelled.

Travelers with tickets for cancelled trains or buses for May 1st may use the same ticket to travel on the same route, but those wishing further changes or cancellation are advised to visit a ticket booth before their trip.