The first new rolling stock to operate on Greek railways in two decades, a hybrid train that can run on both electrified and conventional lines, has arrived in Thessaloniki and will soon become operational, the transport ministry said Monday.
A ministry statement said a second Blues intercity train, built by Japan’s Hitachi Rail in Italy on behalf of Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane, or Trenitalia – which owns Hellenic Train – is due in Greece before the end of July.
Deputy Minister for Transport Giorgos Kotsiras said the new trains were part of an overall drive to modernise the country’s railways – which have been neglected for decades as successive governments prioritised road transport, and were dealt a major blow by the 2023 Tempe rail disaster that killed 57 people.
“The coming of the new trains marks the start of a period of renovation of the country’s rolling stock after two decades,” he said. “Our steady intention is to have modern and reliable railways.”
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a social media post that the new trains are equipped with up-to-date safety features and traffic management systems.
