The Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) named “IPPODAMOS” has arrived at KORYDALLOS Station having bored a total of 2,110 meters of tunnel in the Metro Line 3 Extension “AGHIA MARINA – DIMOTIKO THEATRO” (7.6 km. of tunnel, 6 stations). The TBM started its journey on 04.09.2013 from the Start-up Shaft in Aghia Varvara district; on 16.06.2014 it arrived at AGHIA VARVARA Station and now it reaches KORYDALLOS Station well-within the relevant time-schedule. Further to its maintenance that will last only a few days, the TBM will continue its journey advancing inconspicuously and without causing any disturbance to the city’s activities, and will keep on boring the tunnel towards NIKEA Station, where it is expected to arrive in May 2015. A total of 6.5 km of tunnel are anticipated to be constructed using the ΤΒΜ, while the remaining part of this extension – beginning and end of the Project – shall be constructed using conventional methods (underground excavation). Currently, more than 800 employees of various disciplines are working in the stations under construction, namely AGHIA VARVARA, KORYDALLOS, NIKEA, MANIATIKA, PIRAEUS and DIMOTIKO THEATRO, where worksites are in full swing, while until the project is completed, approximately 2000 persons are expected to be employed, in order to render possible the commissioning of the Metro Extension to Piraeus by 2017.
Mr. Christos Tsitouras, Chairman and Managing Director of ATTIKO METRO S.A., welcomed Messrs. Michalis Chryssohoidis, Minister of Infrastructures, Transport and Networks, Stratos Simopoulos, Secretary General of Public Works, Stavros Kassimatis, Mayor of Korydallos and representatives of near-by Municipalities, and made the following statements: “Today, we are at KORYDALLOS Station, where the most significant transport and environmental Metro Project of the Extension to Piraeus is being constructed. We are advancing at a satisfactory pace and we are well within our time schedule and budget. We are confident that in 2017, through this Extension, the trip from the Airport to Piraeus will last 45 minutes. Very soon, i.e. within next month, we will tender the first section – Branch A’ of Line 4 “Alsos Veikou – Goudi”, a project amounting to approximately 1.25 billion EURO that will serve areas receiving sub-standard services in terms of Public Transport Modes. I would like to point out 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”.
Mr. Michalis Chryssohoidis, Minister of Infrastructures, Transport and Networks made the following statements: “A major Project extending from Aghia Marina to Dimotiko Theatro in the area of Piraeus is in full swing. One third of the subject Project has already been constructed. We are all here today, in Eleftherias Square in the working-class area of Korydallos, wherefrom it will possible for Metro users to reach Syntagma in the centre of Athens in 15 minutes. This is a very critical Project for the local community. We apologise for the disturbance caused currently in the area of Korydallos and for any future disturbance to the areas of Nikea, Maniatika and Dimotiko Theatro. We must underline the fact that this is a very demanding Project, which is constructed under the supervision of Greek entities and based on the know-how of Greek personnel. I congratulate all persons engaged in this Project and Attiko Metro engineers. I hope that the Metro continues to be a source of employment and growth. Thank you very much”.
Mr. Stratos Simopoulos, Secretary General of Public Works, stated the following: “This Project is very important since it serves working-class areas. Attiko Metro, the General Secretariat of Public Works and the Ministry of Infrastructures, Transport and Networks assume the obligation to upgrade these areas through the implementation of such works; the arrival of the TBM at KORYDALLOS Station is the proof of our engagement. Local communities, when united, can promote actions and projects to the benefit of public interest”.
Mr. Stavros Kassimatis, Mayor of Korydallos, pointed out: “This is a very significant project since it is added to the local community endeavours by strengthening them. I hope the project continues at the same rapid pace as it has until this date, so that the transport services of the municipality of Korydallos are further upgraded in the framework of an excellent cooperation among all parties involved”.
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 area and the national economy in general.
