ATTIKO METRO SA
06.07.2010
The Minister of Infrastructures, Transport and Networks, Mr. Dimitris Reppas, along with the Deputy Minister, Mr. Yiannis Mangriotis, and the Secretary General Mr. Yiannis Oikonomidis visited PANEPISTIMIO Station of THESSALONIKI METRO.
Mr. Christos Tsitouras, Chairman of ATTIKO METRO S.A. and Mr. George Konstantinidis, Project Manager of THESSALONIKI METRO, gave them a tour in the worksite and informed them about the complex issues pertaining to the Metro.
Upon completion of the visit, Mr. Reppas made the following statements:
“We have made and we are still making a tremendous effort to reverse the situation at all levels of the Project’s implementation and more specifically at all administrative, organizational, managerial, technical and financial levels. However, my words cannot be more decisive than this: If the efforts for reviving this trapped project become fruitless, then we shall make painful and most realistic decisions for all of us.
The negotiations with the construction contractor are in progress but the time has come to make the final decision, which should be brave for the future of the project and the city itself.”
In his turn, Mr. Christos Tsitouras stated the following: “The schedule slippage of the Metro is mainly due to the long-lasting archaeological excavations, which are anticipated to be completed in 2013, as regards the worksites in the center of Thessaloniki! ATTIKO METRO S.A. has already proceeded to the qualitative and quantitative acceleration of all sectors of the Project and our objective is for the Metro system to be commissioned at the end of 2014. However, whether this objective is realistic or not shall mainly depend on the Contractor’s behavior within the next days. Now is the time for us all, and I mean ALL, to support the implementation of this major Project that we really owe to the citizens of Thessaloniki”.
In addition, Mr. Dimitris Reppas stressed that the Metro does not stop upon completion of the Base Project (13 stations – 9.6 km), but it continues towards Kalamaria (5 stations – 4.8 km) – the relevant tendering process is in progress – towards Stavroupoli (5 stations – 5 km) – the pertinent designs are at an advanced stage – towards Evosmos (4 stations) – the pertinent designs are at an early stage – and finally towards the Airport – the option is under consideration for the extension to be constructed by a fixed track means, of Monorail type (see map attached hereto).
MINISTRY OF INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORTATION AND NETWORKS
05.07.2010
During the Press Conference given today in Thessaloniki, the Minister of Infrastructures, Transport and Networks, Mr. Dimitris Reppas, in the presence of the Deputy Minister, Mr. Yiannis Mangriotis, and the Secretaries General Messrs. Charis Tsiokas, Yiannis Oikonomidis and Sergios Lambropoulos, presented the planning of the works in the urban cluster of the city and the wider area of Thessaloniki.
The Minister made the following statements:
“In view of coordinating the implementation of Thessaloniki projects, our Ministry, in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change (YPEKA) and the Ministry of Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping (YPOIAN), set up a “Coordination Team’ responsible for gathering, assessing and processing proposals that will lead to the development of prioritised actions and works program intended for the urban cluster of Thessaloniki and the Region of Central Macedonia.
The work of the Coordination Team commenced two months ago and, today, the Coordination Team performed its fourth meeting that finalized the proposals, in the presence of the Minister of Infrastructures, Transport and Networks, Mr. Dimitris Reppas. The following persons participate in the subject Committee, namely:
- Charis Tsiokas, Secretary General of the Ministry of Infrastructures, Transport and Networks;
- Sergios Lambropoulos, Secretary General of Co-funded Projects;
- Yiannis Oikonomidis, Secretary General of Public Works;
- Maria Lioni, Secretary General of the Region of Central Macedonia;
- Anastassios Mouratidis, Chairman of “EGNATIA ODOS S.A.”;
- Panayiotis Stathakopoulos, Chairman of Thessaloniki Regulatory Plan Organization;
- Panayiotis Papaioannou, Chairman of Thessaloniki Urban Transport Organization;
- Christos Tsitouras, Chairman of ATTIKO METRO S.A., and Mr. Yiorgos Konstantinidis, Project Manager of Thessaloniki Metro
At a scientific level and depending on its work, the Coordination Team is supported by experts – professors of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. As regards the transport and environment related issues, the Team is supported by Professors George Yiannopoulos and Nikos Moussiopoulos respectively. Other well-known scientists shall also provide their support to the subject Coordination Team, depending on the progress of its work.
The Coordinator of the Team is Deputy Minister Yiannis Mangriotis, who chairs the meetings, held every 15 days in Thessaloniki.
Concerning the construction of the Base Line of Thessaloniki METRO and the implementation of its extensions towards Kalamaria and the Airport, as well as towards the Western Suburbs, the Minister stated as follows:
“I characterized THESSALONIKI METRO as a project captured by the problems inherited to us by the Government of Nea Dimokratia, since:
- Over four years after the conclusion of the construction contract (07.4.2006), in other words, having consumed 64% of the contractual period, only 14.5% of the financial scope of the project has been completed.
- Delays – so far – exceed 2.5 years
- The Payment Certificates of the Contractor amount to 120 million €, while he claims payment of 150 million €.
- Approximately 30% of the overall estimated archaeological excavation has been completed, while the respective amount spent exceeds the amount initially foreseen by 60%.
- The cost for the archaeological excavations exceeded the amount of 1,000 € per m3 of excavation. This figure is enormous, isn’t it?
- TBMs remain idle at Sintrivani cross section; the first one as of November 2009 and the second one as of January 2010.
We have made and we are still making a tremendous effort to reverse the situation at all levels of the Project’s implementation and more specifically at all administrative, organizational, managerial, technical and financial levels. However, my words cannot be more decisive than this: If the efforts for reviving this project become fruitless, then we shall make painful and most realistic decisions for all of us.
The negotiations with the construction contractor are in progress but the time has come to make the final decision, which should be brave for the future of the project and the city itself.
Re-starting of both TBMs is technically feasible and the pertinent works can be resumed within a week.”
Regarding the extension to Kalamaria (Patrikiou – Mikra), the Minister stressed the following:
- the topographical survey
- the geological investigations
- the line alignment
- the selection of the location of 5 stations has been completed
The preparation of the advanced concept design for the stations, the tunnels and the shafts is currently in an advanced stage, covering various aspects pertaining to transportation, structural, architectural, electromechanical, railway and operational aspects.
On AM’s new management decision, the designs shall be prepared in-house by AM, with the assistance of highly specialized consultants. The designs shall be completed by the end of 2010.
The procedure for the pre-selection of the Contractor for the Civil Works and the basic H/M systems is currently in progress.
The depot can be located at the end of the line, in Mikra area; this depot shall be capable to accommodate the needs of the base line, as well as the needs of the extensions.”
Regarding the Extension to Stavroupoli (Demokratias – Efkarpia – Papageorgiou Hospital), the Minister stressed the following:
- the topographical survey up to Efkarpia Station
- the geological investigations in that section ,
- the line alignment ,
- the selection of the location of 5 stations has been completed
Regarding the section from Efkarpia Station to Papageorgiou Hospital, the designs are at an early stage ».
Regarding the Extension to Evosmos (N.R.S – Evosmos) and to the Airport (Mikra– Airport), the Minister stressed:
“There has only been a preliminary selection of the alignment among several alternative alignments, as well as the preliminary selection of the location of four (4) new stations; as far as the extension to the Airport is concerned, there has been a preliminary selection of the alignment. Regarding this particular extension, the feasibility of a Monorail type construction is examined.”
The entire text of the new MASTER PLAN
