The expansion of Greece’s metro networks in Athens and Thessaloniki appears to be facing delays, as funding constraints slow the development of new extensions, according to officials.
Aside from the expected opening of the Thessaloniki metro extension to Kalamaria and ongoing construction of Line 4 in Athens, few projects are moving forward in the near term. A planned extension to western Attica, which would add three stations, has stalled, while proposed expansions to Athens’ northern and southern suburbs remain on the drawing board despite growing demand driven by new businesses and residential development.
In Thessaloniki, five additional stations on the Kalamaria extension are expected to begin operations in the first quarter of the year, according to contractor Aktor Group. The 4.78-kilometer extension includes stations at Nomarchia, Kalamaria, Aretsou, Nea Krini and Mikra. It is projected to serve about 63,000 passengers a day and reduce road traffic by an estimated 12,000 cars.
In the Athens metropolitan area, construction of Line 4 is continuing, with the Avax-Ghella-Alstom consortium saying the two tunnel-boring machines, launched from opposite ends of the route in Galatsi and Katechaki, are expected to meet by the end of 2026. The milestone would mark completion of tunneling along the line.
Line 4 will run 12.8 kilometers and include 15 stations, linking densely populated neighborhoods such as Kypseli, Exarchia and Kolonaki and significantly easing travel across central Athens.
Other planned expansions remain at earlier stages. Attiko Metro is advancing designs for an extension of Line 2 to Glyfada, potentially including a station within the Elliniko redevelopment area. The project is estimated to cost about 400 million euros ($430 million) and would run from Elliniko through Ano Glyfada to central Glyfada near Agios Konstantinos Square.
An extension of Line 2 to Ilion is considered more advanced, although progress has been limited. The 700-million-euro project has been under tender for two years and calls for three new stations at Palatiani, Ilion and Agios Nikolaos.
The Ilion project also includes expanding the Eleonas depot, upgrading the Athens metro’s electromechanical systems and building an underground parking facility with space for about 150 cars to improve connections between drivers and the metro system.
