The Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) arrived at NIKEA Station today, having bored a total of 3400 meters of tunnel of AGHIA MARINA – DIMOTIKO THEATRO Metro Line 3 Extension (7.6km of tunnel with 6 stations).
TBM commenced its operation in September 2013 from Aghia Varvara Startup Shaft; in June 2014 it arrived at AGHIA VARVARA Station, in November 2014 at KORYDALLOS Station and now it reaches NIKEA Station within the foreseen Time Schedule.
After a short scheduled maintenance period, the TBM will continue its drive inconspicuously and without causing any disturbance to the operation of the city, towards MANIATIKA Station, where it is expected to arrive by the end of 2015. The TBM will bore a total of 6.5 km. of tunnel, while the remaining part of the extension (beginning and end of the project) shall be constructed using conventional methods, namely NATM underground excavation method. Currently, more than 800 persons of various disciplines are employed in the stations under construction, i.e. AGHIA VARVARA, KORYDALLOS, NIKEA, MANIATIKA, PIRAEUS and DIMOTIKO THEATRO, where worksites are in full swing. By the completion of the project, the total number of people engaged in this extension is expected to rise to approximately 2,000 employees, so that the Metro extension to Piraeus is commissioned, as scheduled, within 2018.
Mr. Christos Tsitouras, Chairman and Managing Director of ATTIKO METRO S.A., welcomed the representatives of local government and made the following statements: “Today, we are at NIKEA Station where the greatest transport and environmental project, the Metro extension to Piraeus, is under construction by ATTIKO METRO S.A. well within time schedule and budget. The entire extension, which will connect Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” with Piraeus in only 45 minutes, is anticipated to be delivered early in 2018. It should be pointed out that Metro Projects will serve areas receiving sub-standard services in terms of Public Transport Modes areas receiving substandard services in terms of transport, that the Metro constitutes the most user-friendly means of transport, and that it increases the options that the wider areas of Athens and Piraeus have in terms of income and employment”
Upon completion of this Project, the Municipalities of the wider Piraeus area (Nikea, Korydallos, Aghia Varvara) will acquire a modern Metro Line offering comfortable, reliable and rapid transport services to the residents of the western suburbs of Athens. It is estimated that Metro Line 3 Extension to Dimotiko Theatro shall serve 130,000 passengers on a daily basis, thus reducing the private vehicles circulation by 23,000 per day, as well as CO2 emissions by 120 tons, while the trip time from Piraeus Port to the Airport shall be just 45 minutes.
We should also stress that upon completion of this Project, a vital Transportation Hub is expected to be created at PIRAEUS Station, connecting two Metro Lines (Lines 1 and 3), Piraeus Port, the Suburban Railway and the Tramway Extension to Piraeus (5.4 km of single line and 12 stops) already under construction, facilitating thus transfers to/from all public transport modes. Moreover, connecting Piraeus Port with Athens International Airport through the Metro Line 3 Extension shall generate substantial growth that will benefit both the wider Athens and Piraeus areas and the national economy in general.
