The Athens Metro is the underground public transport system of Athens, Greece, constructed by the Attiko Metro (Αττικό Μετρό) company (literally 'Attican metro').

History

Metro Line 1 was inaugurated on February 27th, 1869 as a steam train connecting Athens and Piraeus and was operated by Athens Piraeus Railway SA. The line was electrified in 1904 and the operating company renamed to Athens Piraeus Electric Railway SA in 1976. Today, Line 1 reaches the suburb of Kifisia and is also known as the green line and the electric railway.

Construction of Metro Lines 2 and 3 began in 1996 to decrease traffic congestion and clean up the environment by reducing Athens' smog level.

In 1997 the line under contruction between the Syntagma and Panepistemiou stations developed a 5-meter-wide, 24-meter-deep hole. Fearing that Panepistemiou (University) Avenue and the tunnel would collapse, construction was suspended. Later that afternoon, cement trucks filled the hole with concrete to stabilize the ground and avoid closure of the avenue and the subway project. After the hole was entirely filled, construction resumed.

Lines 2 and 3, operated by Attiko Metro SA and known as red and blue lines respectively, were inaugurated in 2000 and as of 2005 have 23 stations between them. Line 3 reached the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport in 2004. All three Metro lines connect with Proastiakos, the Athens Suburban Railway.

List of stations of the Athens metro system

List of stations in Line 2 (the red line)

• Aghios Antonios - The current north end of the line.
• Sepolia
• Attiki near the train station
• Larisa , near the train station
• Metaxourgio NE of Omonoia Square
• Omonoia - featuring Omonoia Square , it connects also with the ISAP Metro Line 1.
• Panepistimio - featuring the University of Athens
• Syntagma - next to the Constitution Square, it also connects the Blue line`.
• Akropoli (Acropolis) - featuring the ruins of the Acropolis, with the original statutes posted at the station, along with the Omonoia.
• Syngrou-Fix near Andreas Syngrou Avenue
• Neos Kosmos in Neos Kosmos
• Aghios Ioannis next to Vouliagmenis Avenue
• Daphni in the heart of Daphni
• Aghios Dimitrios/Alexandros Panagoulis - near Aghios Dimitrios, Helioupoli and Vouliagmenis Avenue

List of stations in Line 3 (the blue line)

• Eleftherios Venizelos Airport
• Doukissis Plakentias
• Halandri
• Ethniki Amyna
• Katechaki - next to Katechaki Avenue.
• Panormou
• Ampelokipi - near Ampelokipi .
• Megaro Moussikis
• Evangelismos
• Syntagma -- next to Syntagma square , also connects tothe Red line.
• Monastiraki -- also connecting to Line 1.

Future Expansions (According to Attiko Metro S.A.) by the end of 2012

Attiko Metro Line 2 (Red Line)

Line: Anthoupoli - Elliniko

• Anthoupoli (New)
• Peristeri (New)
• Aghios Antonios
• Sepolia
• Attiki
• Larissa Station
• Metaxourghio
• Omonoia
• Panepistimio
• Syntagma
• Akropoli
• Sygrou-Fix
• Neos Kosmos
• Aghios Ioannis
• Daphni
• Aghios Dimitrios/Alexandros Panagoulis
• Ilioupoli (New)
• Alimos (New)
• Argyroupoli (New)
• Elliniko, near the old Hellinikon International Airport - East Terminal (New)

Line: Panepistimio - Alsos Veikou (New Line)

• Panepistimio
• Exarchia (New)
• Alexandras (New)
• Dikastiria (New)
• Kypseli (New)
• Galatsi (New)
• Alsos Veikou (New)

Attiko Metro Line 3 (Blue Line)

Line: Zea - Doukissis Plakentias - Airport

• Zea (New)
• Dimotiko Theatro (New)
• Piraeus
• Tampouria (New)
• Nikaia (New)
• Korydallos (New)
• Aghia Varvara (New)
• Haidari (New)
• Egaleo (New)
• Eleonas (New)
• Votanikos (New)
• Monastiraki
• Syntagma
• Evangelismos
• Megaro Moussikis
• Ambelokipi
• Panormou
• Katehaki
• Ethniki Amyna
• Holargos (New)
• Nomismatokopio (New)
• Aghia Paraskevi (New)
• Halandri
• Doukissis Plakentias
• Airport

Line: Panormou - Maroussi (New Line)

• Panormou
• Pharos (New)
• Filothei (New)
• Sidera (New)
• OAKA (New)
• Paradeisos (New)
• Maroussi

External link

• Attiko Metro official website
• Athens Piraeus Electric Railway official website
• http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/ath/athens.htm