OASTH
Encyclopedia
The Thessaloniki Urban Transport Organization , abbreviated OASTH , is a mass transport organization operating in Thessaloniki
, Greece
.
It was founded in 1957 and now covers a large area of the metropolitan area of Thessaloniki
, the country's second-largest city. OASTH only includes bus transportation due to lack of other means of transport.
was initially covered by an extensive tram
network opened in the late 1800s. Later a Belgian
bus company started operating with horse-pulled carriages seating 4 to 5 people. OASTH was founded by Presidential Decree 3721 and aimed at replacing the city's tram network as sole provider of public transport. The initial fleet included 283 buses of 60 to 80 seats.
In 1978, OASTH acquired the first articulated bus
es in Greece
. In 1979 OASTH expands, taking over several routes previously operated by KTEL
in the suburbs of Thessaloniki
and also takes over the sea services operating by small boats during summer months and are replaced by new OASTH bus routes.
In 2003 OASTH expanded again and 12 new lines were created for the suburbs of Thessaloniki
. In 2009 64 new buses were added to the fleet, numbering 604 buses in total. The agreement with the Greek state
regarding the right to monopolize public transport in Thessaloniki
is valid until two years after the completion of the Thessaloniki Metro
and its expansions.
, OASTH operates an extensive network that covers the entire city. Overall 75 routes are currently in service. Several bus stops all over Thessaloniki are equipped with electronic timetables notifying passengers about the arrival of the next bus of every line.
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
.
It was founded in 1957 and now covers a large area of the metropolitan area of Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
, the country's second-largest city. OASTH only includes bus transportation due to lack of other means of transport.
History
Before the creation of OASTH in 1957, public transport in ThessalonikiThessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
was initially covered by an extensive tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
network opened in the late 1800s. Later a Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
bus company started operating with horse-pulled carriages seating 4 to 5 people. OASTH was founded by Presidential Decree 3721 and aimed at replacing the city's tram network as sole provider of public transport. The initial fleet included 283 buses of 60 to 80 seats.
In 1978, OASTH acquired the first articulated bus
Articulated bus
An articulated bus is an articulated vehicle used in public transportation. It is usually a single-deck design, and comprises two rigid sections linked by a pivoting joint...
es in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. In 1979 OASTH expands, taking over several routes previously operated by KTEL
KTEL
KTEL may refer to:* K-tel, company known for their "as seen on TV" "greatest hits" records and CDs* KTEL-LP, a low-power television station licensed to Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States...
in the suburbs of Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
and also takes over the sea services operating by small boats during summer months and are replaced by new OASTH bus routes.
In 2003 OASTH expanded again and 12 new lines were created for the suburbs of Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
. In 2009 64 new buses were added to the fleet, numbering 604 buses in total. The agreement with the Greek state
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
regarding the right to monopolize public transport in Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
is valid until two years after the completion of the Thessaloniki Metro
Thessaloniki Metro
The Thessaloniki Metropolitan Railway , or Thessaloniki Metro , is an underground rapid transit system under construction in Thessaloniki, Greece.-The project:...
and its expansions.
Bus fleet
The current fleet of OAST consists of the following bus types:- Sarakakis Alexandros (Volvo B10MAVolvo B10MThe Volvo B10M is a popular mid-engined bus and coach chassis built by Volvo between 1978 and 2001. It was built as the successor of the B58 and was equipped with a 9.6-litre horizontally-mounted Volvo THD100/THD101/THD102/THD103/THD104/DH10A diesel engine mounted under the floor, near the middle...
) (1998-) - ELVO C93.113CLL (Scania L113CLLScania L113The Scania L113 was a single-deck bus built by Scania AB of Sweden between 1989 and 1998.-Design:The L113 was largely a cross between the N113 and K113, with the front section of its chassis of a similar height to that of the N113, and an 11-litre engine that was mounted longitudinally as per the...
) (1998-) - Irisbus EuropolisIrisbus EuropolisIrisbus Europolis is an urban midibus model produced by Irisbus.Cities whose transport companies use the Europolis include Rome, Reggio Calabria, Cagliari and Terni in Italy, Lyon in France and Thessaloniki in Greece....
(2003-) - Irisbus CityClassIrisbusIrisbus is a bus manufacturer which was formed through the merger of the bus and coach divisions of Fiat Industrial, Iveco and Renault in January 1999 and Ikarus Bus in late 1999...
(2004-) - Mercedes-Benz Citaro G (2006-)
- ELVO C05.B7L-11M (Volvo B7LVolvo B7LVolvo B7L was a low floor citybus chassis with a rear engine mounted vertically on the left of the rear overhang, it was built as a replacement for the Volvo B10L...
) - ELVO C04.B7LA (Volvo B7LAVolvo B7LVolvo B7L was a low floor citybus chassis with a rear engine mounted vertically on the left of the rear overhang, it was built as a replacement for the Volvo B10L...
) - Sarakakis Makedonia (Volvo B7RLEVolvo B7RThe Volvo B7R is a coach chassis available with a range of bodies. It is promoted as a rear engined lightweight coach chassis. It is primarily intended for tourist and long-distance duties...
) - ELVO C03.B7L (Volvo B7LVolvo B7LVolvo B7L was a low floor citybus chassis with a rear engine mounted vertically on the left of the rear overhang, it was built as a replacement for the Volvo B10L...
) (2006-) - ELVO C06.B9LA (Volvo B9LA) (2007-)
- Mercedes-Benz Citaro (2009-)
- ELVO C08.B9L (Volvo B9L) (2010-)
- ELVO C08.B9LA (Volvo B9LA) (2010-)
- Irisbus Citelis 12Irisbus CitelisIrisbus Citelis is a wheelchair-accessible city bus produced by Irisbus. It was introduced in 2005 to replace the Agora. It comes in two varieties: Citelis 12, which is of standard length, and Citelis 18, which is articulated and has a length of . Citelis models use Euro 4, Euro 5 & EEV engines...
(2010-) - Mercedes-Benz Sprinter City 35Mercedes-Benz SprinterThe Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a light and heavy commercial vehicle, built by Daimler AG of Stuttgart, Germany as a van, chassis cab and minibus, and sold as a Mercedes model, except in the U.S. where it is built from complete knock down kits and was sold by Freightliner until 2010 when Mercedes...
(2010-)
Lines in operation
Being the sole provider of public transport within the city of ThessalonikiThessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
, OASTH operates an extensive network that covers the entire city. Overall 75 routes are currently in service. Several bus stops all over Thessaloniki are equipped with electronic timetables notifying passengers about the arrival of the next bus of every line.