news

First high-speed trains delivered to Greece by Alstom

35
SHARES

Posted: 21 January 2021 | | No comments yet

Alstom has delivered the first of five ETR470 Pendolino trains to TRAINOSE, marking the arrival of high-speed trains in Greece.

First high-speed trains delivered to Greece by Alstom

Credit: Alstom

The first ETR470 Pendolino train, which has been upgraded by Alstom, has arrived in Thessaloniki, marking the arrival of high-speed trains in Greece.

This is part of a project implemented by TRAINOSE – the main rail transport provider in Greece – in which Alstom is to provide depot modernisation and corrective maintenance for the five trains that will constitute the country’s first fleet of high-speed trains.

The two contracts – signed in March 2020 for depot modernisation, and in June 2020 for maintenance – are worth a total of approximately €40 million. The scope of the contracts includes the modernisation of a depot in Thessaloniki and corrective maintenance services for five Alstom ETR470 Pendolino high-speed trains.

The Thessaloniki depot has undergone significant modernisation works in the past few months. The trains have also been fully refurbished and modernised by Alstom at its Savigliano site in Italy.

Following an extensive upgrade process, the trains – now belonging to TRAINOSE as a part of the Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane Group (FS) – will have improved features, such as Wi-Fi connections and new passenger information systems (PIS).

The trains have also been upgraded with European Train Control System (ETCS) signalling and modified to operate under 25kV catenary so as to be fully suitable for operation on the Greek network.

The first Pendolino train will start circulating between Athens and Thessaloniki from March 2021. The other four trains are expected to be delivered to Thessaloniki by Autumn 2021.

“Introducing high-speed trains to Greece is a major achievement for Alstom, and for our client, in the country’s railway transport modernisation efforts. This project compliments Alstom’s long-standing presence in Greece,” said Stavros Vlachos, Alstom‘s Managing Director for Greece.

The introduction of high-speed trains is a key component of Greek rail operator, TRAINOSE’s, plan to reduce current journey times on the main Athens-Thessaloniki axis, from four hours to around three hours, following the completed infrastructure upgrades.

“Starting high-speed service in Greece with these upgraded Alstom trains is part of our strategy to offer an improved passenger experience, better quality services and reduced travel time on a very popular route. Moreover, the upgrade of our Thessaloniki depot as part of this project will turn our depots into some of the most modern and high-tech depots in South-East Europe,” said CEO of TRAINOSE, Professor Filippos Tsalidis.

 

SIGN ME UP

 

Stay Connected with Global Railway Review — Subscribe for Free!

Get exclusive access to the latest rail industry insights from Global Railway Review — all tailored to your interests.

Expert-Led Webinars – Gain insights from global industry leaders
Weekly News & Reports – Rail project updates, thought leadership, and exclusive interviews
Partner Innovations – Discover cutting-edge rail technologies
Print/Digital Magazine – Enjoy two in-depth issues per year, packed with expert content

Choose the updates that matter most to you. Sign up now to stay informed, inspired, and connected — all for free!

Thank you for being part of our community. Let’s keep shaping the future of rail together!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Share via
Share via