Thessaloniki Metro Launch Marks Historic Urban Milestone

Learner News | 30/11/2024

This edition of Greek Learner News takes a look at Thessaloniki’s new metro system, exploring its impact on city traffic, unique features at key stations, and a special promotion for early travelers. Curious about its route? Read on!

Thessaloniki Metro Launch Marks Historic Urban Milestone

The news in Greek

Η Θεσσαλονίκη έχει νέο μετρό με 13 σταθμούς. Ξεκινάει από Νέος Σιδηροδρομικός Σταθμός και φτάνει μέχρι Νέα Ελβετία. Το μετρό είναι σημαντικό1 για την πόλη γιατί μειώνει2 την κίνηση3 στους δρόμους. Τα πρώτα εισιτήρια4 είναι δωρεάν5 , ενώ το κανονικό εισιτήριο κοστίζει6 €0,60. Ο σταθμός Βενιζέλου έχει αρχαιότητες.

  1. σημαντικός
    που έχει μεγάλη σημασία ή αξία ↩︎
  2. μειώνω
    κάνω κάτι να έχει μικρότερο μέγεθος ή ποσότητα ↩︎
  3. κίνηση (f.)
    ροή ατόμων ή οχημάτων σε έναν χώρο ↩︎
  4. εισιτήριο (n.)
    χαρτί ή ηλεκτρονικό τίτλο που επιτρέπει τη μετακίνηση με μέσο μεταφοράς ↩︎
  5. δωρεάν
    χωρίς να πρέπει να πληρώσει κανείς χρήματα ↩︎
  6. κοστίζω
    η τιμή που απαιτείται για να αποκτηθεί κάτι ↩︎

Translation

Thessaloniki has a new metro system with 13 stations. It starts from the New Railway Station and extends to New Elvetia. The metro is important for the city because it reduces traffic on the roads. The initial tickets are free of charge, while the standard fare is €0.60. The Venizelou station features archaeological remains.

Text Comprehension

Question: How many stations does the new Thessaloniki metro have?

The new Thessaloniki metro has 13 stations.

Question: Where does the Thessaloniki metro start and end?

The Thessaloniki metro starts at Neos Sidirodromikos Stathmos and ends at Nea Elvetia.

Vocabulary

GreekEnglish
σημαντικόςimportant
μειώνωreduce
κίνηση (f.)traffic
εισιτήριο (n.)ticket
δωρεάνfree
κοστίζωcost

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Read the full story

The new metro system, featuring 13 stations along a 9.6-kilometre route, stretches from the Neos Sidirodromikos Stathmos (New Railway Station) to Nea Elvetia. It promises to offer a much-needed public transport alternative to the city, which had become synonymous with construction sites and traffic delays.

The project faced a series of setbacks, including financial miscalculations, bankruptcies of participating firms, and lengthy legal disputes, which collectively escalated the project’s cost to an astonishing €3 billion. Compounding these issues were the significant archaeological finds unearthed during construction, notably the ancient Decumanus Maximus, prompting extensive revision and debate about how to handle the city’s heritage.

Thessaloniki Metro Launch Marks Historic Urban Milestone
Thessaloniki Metro Launch Marks Historic Urban Milestone

Among the highlights of the metro is the Venizelos Station, which has garnered attention for integrating archaeological treasures into its design. During a pre-inaugural visit held on Friday evening, Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed admiration for the station’s unique blend of modern and ancient, viewing it as a global exemplar of cultural integration in transport projects. They commended the teams involved in preserving these historical elements.

The station’s archaeological area, covering 1,260 square metres, showcases the preserved remnants of Thessaloniki’s past from the Hellenistic to Byzantine eras, providing commuters a captivating glimpse into the city’s rich history as they traverse the site.

The launch of Thessaloniki’s metro system has been met with excitement but also serves as a reminder of the prolonged inconvenience experienced by the city’s residents. The government has pledged further expansion, including an extension towards Kalamaria, expected to complete by late 2025, which will extend the line to 14.38 kilometres with 18 stations in operation.

Notably, during the first days post-launch, metro rides will be complimentary, offering residents a chance to experience the new system. Regular fares are set at €0.60. However, a fully integrated ticketing system with other public transport modes is currently unavailable, requiring separate tickets for bus travel.

This launch is a pivotal moment for Thessaloniki, marking a transformative period in its public transportation system, with the potential to markedly improve urban mobility, reduce vehicle traffic, and lower urban pollution.

Info: “Greek Learner News” is a service from “Let’s Learn Greek,” a language school dedicated to the learning and mastery of the Greek language. We offer various types of online courses designed to help you learn to speak Greek.


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