ATM Group proudly announced the opening of the Thessaloniki metro on November 30, marking a significant milestone for Greece’s second-largest city, home to over one million residents.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Greek Prime Minister Mr Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Mr Chrístos Staikouras, the deputy Minister of Infrastructure Mr Nikolaos Tachiaos, as well as by ATM Group Chairperson Mrs Gioia Ghezzi and CEO Mr Arrigo Giana, Egis CEO Mr Laurent Germain and THEMA’s CEO Mr Carlo Bianco.
The company THEMA, formed by ATM and Egis (51% and 49% respectively), is responsible for the management of the new driverless line. The cutting-edge metro system represents a strategic infrastructure for Thessaloniki and the wider Macedonia region, playing an important role in enhancing connectivity for the city and providing a boost to local growth and the overall development of the area.
The metro spans 10 kilometers along an east-west axis, featuring 13 stations, and delivers a significant reduction of both travel and waiting times. The system guarantees the highest levels of safety offering commuters efficient and accessible transportation. Future plans include an extension with five additional stations reaching Kalamaria, near the city’s airport, further enhancing regional mobility.
Expected to serve 313,000 passengers daily, the metro will operate with train headways of about 3 minutes. By reducing road traffic by approximately 60,000 vehicles each day, it is estimated to prevent 212 tons of CO2 emissions per day, promoting clean urban mobility.
The construction of the Thessaloniki Metro uncovered remarkable archaeological discoveries that are showcased in the Stations and museums, with “Venizelou” Station standing out as the largest archaeological site integrated into a major technical project worldwide.
“The opening of the Thessaloniki metro represents a further step in the A Group's growth strategy - said ATM Chairperson Mrs Gioia Ghezzi - and confirms the central role of public transport in the development of cities. Encouraging social, economic and cultural exchanges, it allows everyone to travel in a shared and sustainable way”.
ATM, worldwide recognized as an international leader in automated metro operations, brings its expertise and know-how to Greece, ensuring a reliable, efficient, and smart service.
“This important milestone further strengthens the Group’s international dimension, bringing to seven the number of driverless metros managed between Milan, Copenhagen and Thessaloniki – said ATM CEO Mr Arrigo Giana. This result consolidates our experience, our know-how and our commitment to offering the best public transport service to all citizens”.
This project reflects ATM's commitment to delivering innovative and high-quality transport systems, contributing to the advancement of the cities and communities it operates in, paving the way for a green environment for future generations.
Discover more on: www.thessmetro.gr