Line 3 (Athens Metro)

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Line 3 of the Athens Metro is a rapid transit line that runs from Dimotiko Theatro in the west to Doukissis Plakentias or Athens Airport in the east, via Syntagma. Most Line 3 trains start or terminate at Doukissis Plakentias: a through service to the Airport leaves once every 36 minutes, and shares most of the extended route with the Athens Suburban Railway.[6] It runs for 47.3 kilometres (29.4 mi), making it the system's longest line.

Προς Δημοτικό Θέατρο/Αεροδρόμιο
To Dimotiko Theatro/Airport
Doukissis Plakentias ticket hall
Overview
Locale
Termini
Stations27
Colour on mapBlue[a]
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata
Service
Type
SystemAthens Metro
Operator(s)STASY
Depot(s)
  • Eleonas
  • Plakentias
Rolling stock1st, 2nd (DC and AC/DC) and 3rd Generations
History
Opened28 January 2000 (2000-01-28)
Last extension10 October 2022 (2022-10-10)
Technical
Line length47.3 km (29.4 mi)[5]
CharacterDeep-level
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification
Route map

Dimotiko Theatro
[Athens Tram Dimarcheio]
Piraeus Athens Metro Line 1 Athens Suburban Railway
Maniatika
Nikaia
Korydallos
Agia Varvara
Agia Marina
Egaleo
Eleonas
Kerameikos
Monastiraki Athens Metro Line 1
Syntagma Athens Metro Line 2 Athens Tram
connection to Line 2
Evangelismos
(Athens Metro Line 4
under
construction
)
Megaro Mousikis
Ambelokipi
Panormou
Katehaki
(Athens Metro Line 4 planned)
Ethniki Amyna
Cholargos
Nomismatokopio
Agia Paraskevi
Chalandri
Doukissis Plakentias[c] Athens Suburban Railway
track south of here
owned by OSE
Pallini
Paiania–Kantza
Koropi
Athens Airport Athens International Airport
Key
Line 3
planned interchange
Athens Suburban Railway
non-passenger connector

Line 3 provides a direct albeit infrequent service between the Port of Piraeus with the Athens International Airport, a journey that takes up to 59 minutes.[7] The line between Dimotiko Theatro and Doukissis Plakentias is underground, and the shared section with the Athens Suburban Railway towards the Airport is a surface-level median of the A6 and A64 motorways.

It first opened, between Ethniki Amyna and Syntagma, on 28 January 2000, with Line 2.[8] In 2012, construction works commenced for the latest underground extension of Line 3 to Dimotiko Theatro via Piraeus which was completed on 10 October 2022.[9][10]

Rolling stock

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Dual voltage ROTEM-supplied stock with greater luggage space is used for services to Athens International Airport. Line 3 rail vehicles utilize 750 V DC third rail current collection between Dimotiko Theatro and Doukissis Plakentias, changing to 25 kV AC overhead catenary while operating on the Athens Suburban Railway for access to/from the airport.

Extension to Piraeus

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A Line 3 train approaching the northbound platform of the Nomismatokopio station

On 1 March 2012 a contract was signed between Attiko Metro S.A. and a joint venture for the construction of the extension of Line 3 from Haidari to Piraeus, 7.6 km (4.7 mi) long with six stations. The extension to Nikaia in 2020 brought the Korydallos and Nikaia municipalities into the network's catchment area, serve approximately 132,000 passengers on a daily basis and upon completion in 2022,[11] connects to the port of Piraeus, the largest passenger port of Europe [12] with the Athens International Airport in just 1 hour.[13] The completion dates of the final three stations are as follows:

  • Maniatika (10 October 2022)
  • Piraeus (10 October 2022)
  • Dimotiko Theatro ("Municipal Theatre", 10 October 2022)
Notes
  • The original plans included one more station after Dimotiko Theatro, named Evaggelistria. Attiko Metro cancelled plans for the station on 10 November 2008, due to local objections (mainly by the Metropolitan Bishop of Piraeus District).[14]
  • There were plans to build a station between Korydallos and Nikaia named Perivolaki.

2018 timetable controversy

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On 1 November 2018, STASY introduced a new timetable that scrapped direct metro services to the airport from the city center, due to the lack of spare parts for the fleet. At the time, travelers from the city center to the Airport had to change at Doukissis Plakentias. Reception towards the timetable changes was overwhelmingly negative: the negative reception included a complaint by the Transport Ministry General Secretary, Thanos Vourdas, claiming that STASY required ministerial approval to scrap the airport trains.[15] On 9 November 2018, STASY decided to reinstate the original service pattern, from 10 November 2018.[16]

Stations

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The spelling of the station names on this table, in English and Greek, are according to the signage. Most Line 3 stations have two tracks and two side platforms: Egaleo, Ethniki Amyna, Koropi, Monastiraki, Paiania–Kantza and Pallini have two tracks and one island platform. Athens Airport has three tracks and two island platforms, but Metro trains can only use the middle track.

¤ Limited service of one train every 36 minutes[6]
Terminal station
# Interchange station
Station
English
Station
Greek
Image Municipality Opened Interchanges and notes Position
Dimotiko Theatro †# Δημοτικό Θέατρο   Piraeus 10 October 2022[10] Interchange with the Athens Tram at Dimarcheio. 37°56′34″N 23°38′50″E / 37.942905°N 23.647350°E / 37.942905; 23.647350 (Dimotiko Theatro)
Piraeus †# Πειραιάς   Piraeus 10 October 2022[d][10] Interchange with Line 1 and the Athens Suburban Railway. 37°56′53″N 23°38′32″E / 37.948100°N 23.642265°E / 37.948100; 23.642265 (Piraeus)
Maniatika Μανιάτικα   Piraeus 10 October 2022[10] 37°57′34″N 23°38′23″E / 37.959545°N 23.639780°E / 37.959545; 23.639780 (Maniatika)
Nikaia Νίκαια   Nikaia-Agios Ioannis Rentis 7 July 2020[19] 37°57′57″N 23°38′51″E / 37.965745°N 23.647550°E / 37.965745; 23.647550 (Nikaia)
Korydallos Κορυδαλλός   Korydallos 7 July 2020[19] 37°58′37″N 23°39′01″E / 37.977050°N 23.650405°E / 37.977050; 23.650405 (Korydallos)
Agia Varvara Αγία Βαρβάρα   Agia Varvara 7 July 2020[19] 37°59′23″N 23°39′34″E / 37.989710°N 23.659320°E / 37.989710; 23.659320 (Agia Varvara)
Agia Marina Αγία Μαρίνα   Agia Varvara 14 December 2013[20] 37°59′49″N 23°40′02″E / 37.996860°N 23.667130°E / 37.996860; 23.667130 (Agia Marina)
Egaleo Αιγάλεω   Aigaleo 26 May 2007[21] 37°59′29″N 23°40′54″E / 37.991420°N 23.681690°E / 37.991420; 23.681690 (Egaleo)
Eleonas Ελαιώνας   Aigaleo 26 May 2007[21] 37°59′16″N 23°41′36″E / 37.987725°N 23.693375°E / 37.987725; 23.693375 (Eleonas)
Kerameikos Κεραμεικός   Athens 26 May 2007[21] Construction of Kerameikos was suspended in 1998 and later relocated, due to an archaeological dispute.[22] 37°58′43″N 23°42′39″E / 37.978715°N 23.710940°E / 37.978715; 23.710940 (Kerameikos)
Monastiraki # Μοναστηράκι   Athens 22 April 2003[e][23] Interchange with Line 1.

Some platform signs on Line 1 use the station's Katharevousa name, "Monastirion" (Greek: Μοναστήριον).[24]

37°58′36″N 23°43′33″E / 37.976615°N 23.725905°E / 37.976615; 23.725905 (Monastiraki)
Syntagma # Σύνταγμα   Athens 28 January 2000[8] Interchange with Line 2 and the Athens Tram. 37°58′29″N 23°44′08″E / 37.974790°N 23.735535°E / 37.974790; 23.735535 (Syntagma)
Evangelismos Ευαγγελισμός   Athens 28 January 2000[8] 37°58′33″N 23°44′48″E / 37.975900°N 23.746560°E / 37.975900; 23.746560 (Evangelismos)
Megaro Moussikis Μέγαρο Μουσικής   Athens 28 January 2000[8] 37°58′46″N 23°45′13″E / 37.979370°N 23.753515°E / 37.979370; 23.753515 (Megaro Moussikis)
Ambelokipi Αμπελόκηποι   Athens 28 January 2000[8] 37°59′13″N 23°45′27″E / 37.986945°N 23.757600°E / 37.986945; 23.757600 (Ambelokipi)
Panormou Πανόρμου   Athens 28 January 2000[8] 37°59′35″N 23°45′49″E / 37.993030°N 23.763530°E / 37.993030; 23.763530 (Panormou)
Katehaki Κατεχάκη   Athens 28 January 2000[8] 37°59′36″N 23°46′37″E / 37.993445°N 23.776965°E / 37.993445; 23.776965 (Katehaki)
Ethniki Amyna Εθνική Άμυνα   28 January 2000[8] 37°59′58″N 23°47′05″E / 37.999475°N 23.784810°E / 37.999475; 23.784810 (Ethniki Amyna)
Holargos Χολαργός   23 July 2010[25] This station opened after the extension to Chalandri. 38°00′17″N 23°47′40″E / 38.004710°N 23.794355°E / 38.004710; 23.794355 (Holargos)
Nomismatokopio Νομισματοκοπείο   2 September 2009[26] This station opened after the extension to Chalandri. 38°00′34″N 23°48′21″E / 38.009425°N 23.805970°E / 38.009425; 23.805970 (Nomismatokopio)
Aghia Paraskevi Αγία Παρασκευή   Chalandri 30 December 2010[27] This station opened after the extension to Chalandri. 38°01′03″N 23°48′46″E / 38.017380°N 23.812765°E / 38.017380; 23.812765 (Aghia Paraskevi)
Halandri Χαλάνδρι   Chalandri 24 July 2004[28] 38°01′18″N 23°49′16″E / 38.021755°N 23.821185°E / 38.021755; 23.821185 (Halandri)
Doukissis Plakentias[f] †# Δουκίσσης Πλακεντίας   Chalandri 28 July 2004[28] Interchange with the Athens Suburban Railway at Plakentias. 38°01′26″N 23°49′57″E / 38.023965°N 23.832545°E / 38.023965; 23.832545 (Doukissis Plakentias)
Pallini ¤# Παλλήνη   Pallini September 2006[g] Interchange with the Athens Suburban Railway.

This station is operated by GAIAOSE.

38°00′18″N 23°52′11″E / 38.005100°N 23.869825°E / 38.005100; 23.869825 (Pallini)
Paiania–Kantza ¤# Παιανία - Κάντζα Paiania 10 July 2006[g][29] Interchange with the Athens Suburban Railway.

This station is operated by GAIAOSE.

37°59′04″N 23°52′12″E / 37.984485°N 23.870020°E / 37.984485; 23.870020 (Paiania–Kantza)
Koropi ¤# Κορωπί   Kropia 10 July 2006[g][29] Interchange with the Athens Suburban Railway.

This station is operated by GAIAOSE.

37°54′46″N 23°53′45″E / 37.912860°N 23.895860°E / 37.912860; 23.895860 (Koropi)
Athens International Airport ¤†# Διεθνής Αερολιμένας Αθηνών   Spata-Artemida 30 July 2004[28] Interchange with the Athens Suburban Railway.

This station is operated by Athens International Airport S.A.

37°56′13″N 23°56′41″E / 37.936890°N 23.944700°E / 37.936890; 23.944700 (Athens International Airport)

Notes

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  1. ^ The colour of Line 3 varies: the signage, in-car line diagrams and STASY maps (since 7 October 2022) use blue,[1][2] while Attiko Metro maps (as well as those of STASY until 7 October 2022) use sky blue.[3][4]
  2. ^ Between Doukissis Plakentias and Athens Airport.
  3. ^ Some Line 3 trains terminate and reverse at Doukissis Plakentias.
  4. ^ The Line 1 station opened on 27 February 1869.[17][18]
  5. ^ The Line 1 station opened on 17 May 1895.[17]
  6. ^ Doukissis Plakentias is signed as "Plakentias" (Greek: Πλακεντίας) on the Athens Suburban Railway.
  7. ^ a b c Pallini, Paiania–Kantza and Koropi opened on 30 July 2004, for Athens Suburban Railway trains only.

References

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  1. ^ "OASA: Changes to bus routes after delivery of the Metro extension in Piraeus". Athens Transport (in Greek). 6 October 2022. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Metro and Tram Map" (PDF). STASY (in Greek). Athens: Transport for Athens. 11 October 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 November 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  3. ^ "Metro and Tram Map" (PDF). STASY (in Greek). Athens: Transport for Athens. 14 July 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Athens Metro Lines Development Plan" (PDF). Attiko Metro. Athens. September 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  5. ^ "Company presentation". STASY (in Greek). Athens: Transport for Athens. 7 November 2022. Archived from the original on 7 November 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Timetable" (PDF). STASY (in Greek). Athens. 17 October 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  7. ^ "Line 3 (Timetables)". STASY. Athens: Transport for Athens. 9 January 2023. Archived from the original on 7 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h Delezos, Kostas (28 January 2000). "From today, Athens moves to the rhythm of the Metro". Ta Nea (in Greek). Athens: Alter Ego Media. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  9. ^ "AttikoMetro Inside - Piraeus". Attiko Metro S.A. 5 September 2012. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  10. ^ a b c d Burroughs, David (12 October 2022). "Athens Metro Line 3 Phase 2 extension opens". International Railway Journal. Omaha: Simmons-Boardman Publishing. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  11. ^ "Μετρό Αθήνας: Ξεκινάει ο Μετροπόντικας για το λιμάνι του Πειραιά". www.ypodomes.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05.
  12. ^ "Piraeus by Maritime Database". www.maritime-database.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2009. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
  13. ^ "Extension to Piraeus project". Attiko Metro S.A. www.ametro.gr. 2012-04-06. Archived from the original on 2012-11-07. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
  14. ^ "Project Progress: Piraeus". Attiko Metro. Athens. 10 November 2008. Archived from the original on 17 November 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  15. ^ "Ministry Urges STASY to Reinstate Direct Athens Airport Metro Service". 8 November 2018.
  16. ^ "Direct metro connection to Athens airport resumes on Saturday". ERT. ERT International. 9 November 2018. Archived from the original on 10 November 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  17. ^ a b "Stations". Athens Piraeus Electric Railways (in Greek). Athens. 17 January 2012. Archived from the original on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  18. ^ Fotopoulos, Manolis (August 2018). "The SAP-EIS-ISAP Electric Railway Stations in the 149 years of operation of the company" (PDF). The Electric Railway (in Greek) (140). Piraeus: 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  19. ^ a b c Burroughs, David (10 July 2020). "Athens metro Line 3 extension opens". International Railway Journal. Omaha: Simmons-Boardman Publishing. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  20. ^ "Commissioning of "Aghia Marina" metro station". Attiko Metro. Athens. 13 December 2013. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  21. ^ a b c "The operation of the Metro extension to Egaleo began on Saturday". in.gr (in Greek). Athens: Alter Ego Media. 26 May 2007. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  22. ^ Axarlis, Nikos (March 1998). "Tunnel Canceled". Archaeology. Long Island City: Archaeological Institute of America. Archived from the original on 11 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  23. ^ "The new Metro station in Monastiraki is in traffic". in.gr (in Greek). Athens: Alter Ego Media. 22 April 2003. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  24. ^ "To the West, On Deck, Monastirion Station". Zougla (in Greek). Athens. 6 August 2017. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  25. ^ "Athens Metro: Holargos metro station is given to the public". Attiko Metro. Athens. 23 July 2010. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  26. ^ "Nomismatokopio Station". Attiko Metro. Athens. 2 September 2009. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  27. ^ "Aghia Paraskevi Station - One more modern Metro Station at the service of the citizens". Attiko Metro. Athens. 30 December 2010. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  28. ^ a b c "Athens 2004 Olympic transport". Athens Transport (in Greek). 13 August 2019. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  29. ^ a b "Inauguration of new Metro stations". ANT1 News (in Greek). Marousi: Antenna TV. 10 July 2006. Archived from the original on 28 December 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
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