TrainOSE
Encyclopedia
TrainOSE S.A. is a railway company in Greece which currently operates all passenger and freight trains on OSE lines. The company, formerly a subsidiary of the Hellenic Railways Organisation (OSE), has been from 2008 an independent state-owned company. TrainOSE employes all train crews, operators and manages the rail services throughout the Greek railway network, but does not own any rolling stock, leasing rolling stock owned by OSE
instead.
TrainOSE operates 3 types of regional rail passenger services on which include "Regular" trains , Express trains and Intercity (IC) trains.
The regular rail service is the slowest, with trains making frequent stops, while it is also the cheapest available. Express trains are faster trains, making fewer stops in sections served by regular trains. Intercity(IC) trains are the fastest but the most expensive. The needed supplement on Intercity(IC) trains typically doubled or tripled the base fare respectively, but today this is determined more by the different competing forms of transport, mainly air transport. Car transport is also available on night services on the main line from Athens to Thessaloniki.
Passenger accommodation is similar in all classes of long distance trains. Seat reservation, bar and restaurant facilities are available on long distance express and on Intercity(IC) trains.
Numbering of the trains is determined by the type of the train. Regular trains (and also Proastiakos suburban/commuter rail service trains) have 4-digit train numbers, Express trains have 3-digit train numbers and Intercity(IC) and Intercity trains have 2-digit train numbers, preceded by the symbols IC.
The following table shows the situation as of August 2011. Numbers indicate trains on each direction on weekdays (Monday-Friday), excluding public holidays.
Suburban/Commuter rail services between Piraeus - Athens - Athens International Airport and Kiato are not listed. In addition to the above regional rail services on the OSE network, TrainOSE also operates two suburban/commuter rail services on the remnants of the former Peloponesse metre gauge network:
A limited seasonal/tourist service of one train per day also operates as part of the Pelion railway
.
is the name used for the suburban (commuter rail) services of TrainOSE in the Athens and Thessaloniki areas. Proastiakos was initially an independent subsidiary within the OSE group, but has since been merged with TrainOSE S.A. The network infrastructure, even if partly purpose-built for the Proastiakos service, is part of the national railway network of OSE, and as such is used by the regional rail services, even freight.
Proastiakos is a relatively new development, with the first service inaugurated for 2004 Athens Olympic Games, between Athens International Airport and Athens (via Neratziotissa station, close to the Olympic Stadium). The commuter rail services that are currently operated by Proastiakos include the lines on the 'main corridor' of Piraeus–Athens–Ano Liosia, Ano Liosia–Athens International Airport, Ano Liosia–Corinth–Kiato; and between the cities of Thessaloniki and Larissa.
The rolling stock of the Proastiakos commuter rail services include of Class 460 Siemens Desiro five-car electric multiple units (EMU), used on the electrified sections of the Ano Liosia–Athens International Airport, Ano Liosia–Corinth–Kiato and Thessaloniki–Larissa lines; while Stadler GTW 2/6 DMUs and MAN-2000 DMUs are used on the non electrified section between Piraeus–Athens–Ano Liosia.
In Athens, Poastiakos provides connections with ISAP
(Metro Line 1) at Neratziotissa station, Athens Metro line 2 at Athens Central (Larissa station) and Athens Metro line 3 at Plakentias station; while it is also the only passenger rail service from Athens to Peloponnese, providing connections with the Peloponnese metre gauge network at Corinth and Kiato stations. This alone has somewhat played a wider role in providing actual regional rail links, than just being a pure suburban-commuter rail service.
Other irregular national and international freight services also exist.
Since 13th February 2011, due to the Greek financial crisis and subsequent budget cuts by the Greek government, all international services have been suspended. The Greek railway system used to connect with the railways of neighbouring countries Bulgaria
at Promahonas (Koulata) and at Ormenion, with Turkey
at Pythion
and with the railways of the Republic of Macedonia at Idomeni.
The passenger services from Greece that ran to neighbouring countries until February 2011 were:
Hellenic Railways Organisation rolling stock
Hellenic Railways Organisation owns and maintain an assortment of railway rolling stock. It includes all locomotives, multiple units and hauled stock running on OSE lines Hellenic Railways Organisation (OSE) owns and maintain an assortment of railway rolling stock. It includes all locomotives,...
instead.
Mainline passenger services
The regular rail service is the slowest, with trains making frequent stops, while it is also the cheapest available. Express trains are faster trains, making fewer stops in sections served by regular trains. Intercity(IC) trains are the fastest but the most expensive. The needed supplement on Intercity(IC) trains typically doubled or tripled the base fare respectively, but today this is determined more by the different competing forms of transport, mainly air transport. Car transport is also available on night services on the main line from Athens to Thessaloniki.
Passenger accommodation is similar in all classes of long distance trains. Seat reservation, bar and restaurant facilities are available on long distance express and on Intercity(IC) trains.
Numbering of the trains is determined by the type of the train. Regular trains (and also Proastiakos suburban/commuter rail service trains) have 4-digit train numbers, Express trains have 3-digit train numbers and Intercity(IC) and Intercity trains have 2-digit train numbers, preceded by the symbols IC.
The following table shows the situation as of August 2011. Numbers indicate trains on each direction on weekdays (Monday-Friday), excluding public holidays.
| Service | Intercity (IC) | Express & Regular |
|---|---|---|
| Athens-Thessaloniki | 6 | 1 |
| Thessaloniki-Alexandroupoli | 1 | 1 |
| Athens-Leianokladi | 2 | |
| Athens-Chalkis | 11 | |
| Thessaloniki-Edessa | 11 | |
| Larissa-Volos | 9 | |
| Athens-Kalampaka | 1 | |
| Thessaloniki-Kalampaka | 1 | |
| Palaiofarsalos-Kalampaka | 2 | |
| Alexandroupoli-Ormenio | 3 | |
| Leianokladi-Lamia-Stylis | 12 | |
| Diakofto-Kalavryta | 3 | |
| Larisa-Thessaloniki | 12 | |
Suburban/Commuter rail services between Piraeus - Athens - Athens International Airport and Kiato are not listed. In addition to the above regional rail services on the OSE network, TrainOSE also operates two suburban/commuter rail services on the remnants of the former Peloponesse metre gauge network:
- KatakoloKatakoloKatakolo is a seaside town in western Ilia in the municipality of Pyrgos. It is located south of Patras and Dounaiika, 12 km off downtown Pyrgos, west of Olympia and northwest of Messenia...
to Ancient Olympia via PyrgosPyrgos, ElisPyrgos is the capital of the Elis peripheral unit in Greece. It is named after a local tower. The city is located in the western part of the Peloponnese, in the middle of a plain near the Ionian Sea. It is 96 km away from Patras via Greek National Road 9, 320 km from Athens, and... - PatrasPatrasPatras , ) is Greece's third largest urban area and the regional capital of West Greece, located in northern Peloponnese, 215 kilometers west of Athens...
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A limited seasonal/tourist service of one train per day also operates as part of the Pelion railway
Pelion railway
Pelion railway was a narrow gauge railway line of Thessaly Railways in Greece, connecting the city of Volos with the town of Mileai on Pelion.-History:...
.
Proastiakos commuter rail service
ProastiakosProastiakos
Proastiakós , is the name used for the suburban services of TrainOSE, servicing Greece's three largest cities: Athens, Thessaloniki and Patras; providing them with modern commuter rail links, towards their suburbs and also towards other cities and towns located around them.The service, operated by...
is the name used for the suburban (commuter rail) services of TrainOSE in the Athens and Thessaloniki areas. Proastiakos was initially an independent subsidiary within the OSE group, but has since been merged with TrainOSE S.A. The network infrastructure, even if partly purpose-built for the Proastiakos service, is part of the national railway network of OSE, and as such is used by the regional rail services, even freight.
The rolling stock of the Proastiakos commuter rail services include of Class 460 Siemens Desiro five-car electric multiple units (EMU), used on the electrified sections of the Ano Liosia–Athens International Airport, Ano Liosia–Corinth–Kiato and Thessaloniki–Larissa lines; while Stadler GTW 2/6 DMUs and MAN-2000 DMUs are used on the non electrified section between Piraeus–Athens–Ano Liosia.
In Athens, Poastiakos provides connections with ISAP
ISAP
I.S.A.P. is the acronym for the Athens-Piraeus Electric Railways , the oldest urban rapid transit system of Athens metropolitan area in Greece. It is the second-oldest underground metro system in the world, after the Metropolitan Railway, of 1863, now a part of the London Underground...
(Metro Line 1) at Neratziotissa station, Athens Metro line 2 at Athens Central (Larissa station) and Athens Metro line 3 at Plakentias station; while it is also the only passenger rail service from Athens to Peloponnese, providing connections with the Peloponnese metre gauge network at Corinth and Kiato stations. This alone has somewhat played a wider role in providing actual regional rail links, than just being a pure suburban-commuter rail service.
Freight rail
As of February 2011 the current regular freight services of TrainOSE consist of:- A night service from Agios Ioannis Rentis in Athens to the Thessaloniki marshalling yard
- A night service from Thessaloniki yard to Agios Ioannis Rentis
- A nigth service from Agios Ioannis Rentis to Agioi Anargyroi container unloading facility and back
Other irregular national and international freight services also exist.
International Services
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
at Promahonas (Koulata) and at Ormenion, with Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
at Pythion
Pythion
Pythion or Pythium, was an ancient city of Perrhaebia in Thessaly, situated at the foot of Mount Olympus, and forming a Tripolis with the two neighbouring towns of Azorus and Doliche...
and with the railways of the Republic of Macedonia at Idomeni.
The passenger services from Greece that ran to neighbouring countries until February 2011 were:
- Thessaloniki – Istanbul (Dostluk/Filia Express)
- Thessaloniki – Sofia – Bucharest
- Thessaloniki – Idomeni – Skopje – Belgrade
- Athens – Sofia