The extension of the Thessaloniki metro to the southern suburb of Kalamaria was officially delivered to commuters on Thursday in an inauguration ceremony attended by the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Besides easing traffic congestion, the new line is expected to improve the quality of life of the residents of Kalamaria and boost the suburb’s local economy.
“Thessaloniki can take pride in having a metro that is one of the most modern and beautiful in Europe,” the Greek Premier said, having arrived for the ceremony aboard the new metro line.
Thessaloniki metro’s Kalamaria extension opens to the public
The extension comprises five new stations: Nomarchia, Kalamaria, Aretsou, Nea Krini and Mikra, extending over 4.8 kilometres of underground line. It is expected to serve more than 60,000 daily passengers and reduce the number of vehicles circulating in the centre of the northern Greek city each day by around 10,000, according to Infrastructure and Transport Minister Christos Dimas.
The branch was scheduled to open for the public at 3.00pm local time on Thursday, following the successful conclusion of a demanding month of trial runs ahead of commercial operations.
Trains will run from 5.15am to half past midnight Monday to Thursday and on Sundays, extended until 2.00am the next day on Fridays and Saturdays.
During the 90th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) starting next week, the Thessaloniki metro will operate around the clock on September 4-5, as well as on September 11-12.
Plans to further extend Thessaloniki metro
More than one billion euro in EU funding has supported the construction of the Thessaloniki metro, according to European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas, who was also present at the inauguration ceremony.
Data from the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH) suggest that the operation of the main metro line in Thessaloniki, opened in November 2024, has already helped decrease traffic in the city centre by 15 percent, and the new extension is forecast to further ease traffic congestion in the city.
Infrastructure and Transport Minister Dimas announced that the ministry’s new planning includes extending the Metro network to western Thessaloniki, with the aim to create a network that serves all residents and visitors of the city.
The future extension is currently in the project study phase, he added.
Transport and traffic infrastructure in Thessaloniki is also supported by investments in new buses with improved and more frequent schedules, as well as the Thessaloniki flyover highway, expected to be delivered in May 2027.
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