Project Profile: Thessaloniki Metro Extension to Kalamaria

The Thessaloniki Metro’s extension to the southern suburb of Kalamaria represents a critical enhancement to the city’s urban rail network. This profile details the engineering, financing, and strategic impact of the 4.78 km expansion, which is designed to integrate a high-capacity transit system into a dense urban and archaeological landscape. The project, managed by Attiko Metro, addresses long-standing transportation challenges by connecting key residential and commercial zones to the city center.

Technical Specifications

The Kalamaria extension is a 4.78 km branch of Thessaloniki Metro’s Line 2, featuring five new underground stations: Nomarchia, Kalamaria, Aretsou, Nea Krini, and Mikra. The alignment consists of two parallel single-track tunnels excavated primarily by two Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), a method selected to minimize surface disruption in the densely populated urban environment. A significant engineering challenge involved navigating the route through areas of high archaeological sensitivity, which required supplementary contracts and specialized excavation techniques to preserve historical artifacts discovered during construction. The project’s design is forward-looking, incorporating infrastructure for future expansions, notably a planned connection to Macedonia International Airport and a multi-modal transport hub at Mikra station for seamless bus-metro transfers. The line will operate with state-of-the-art signaling systems to support an estimated daily ridership of over 65,000 passengers.

Key Takeaways

• Strategic Urban Decongestion: The extension provides a high-speed, reliable alternative to private vehicles, directly addressing traffic congestion between the city center and the populous Kalamaria municipality.
• Integration of Modern Engineering and Heritage: The project successfully demonstrates the integration of advanced TBM tunneling technology with meticulous archaeological preservation, setting a benchmark for infrastructure development in historically significant cities.
• Foundation for Future Network Growth: By including provisions for an airport link and a major transport interchange, the project acts as a strategic backbone for the future growth of Thessaloniki’s public transport network.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When will the Thessaloniki Metro extension to Kalamaria open?
The Kalamaria extension is in its final testing phase and is projected to become fully operational for public service in 2026. Final commissioning and safety certifications are currently underway.

Who is building the Kalamaria metro line?
The project is owned and managed by Attiko Metro, a Greek state company. The primary construction contract was awarded to AKTOR, a major Greek construction firm, with financing support from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and other national and EU funds.