The Technical Chamber of Greece organized the Green Deal Greece 2024 conference yesterday, and Mr. Christos Palios, the managing director of ERGOSE, spoke from the podium about the key railway projects that ERGOSE planned and carried out to increase safety, increase the reliability of the railway, and attract more transport work compared to road transport.

"ERGOSE's business plan for the upgrade of critical rail infrastructure focuses on the development of a series of projects with secured funding, totalling €1 billion, and the completion of all ongoing projects on the national network, which will upgrade 370 km of lines," pointed out the CEO of ERGOSE.

A major project that will soon enter the implementation phase is the construction of a new line in the N. Karvali-TToxotes section, which will connect the freight port of Kavala with the existing railway network. This is the largest railway project of the last decade of geostrategic importance, as it is part of the European plan to interconnect the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea.

Another key project that is being implemented is the upgrading of the Alexandroupoli-Oormenio line. The submission of binding financial bids and the award of the contractor will take place in 2025.
Last July, the approval of funding from CEF 2021-2027 was achieved, and the Grant Agreement with CINEA, the competent EU agency for the Pythios-Ormenio section, was signed a few days ago. The remainder of the section will receive funding in the new call that the EU publishes in September 2024.

The development of the Western Suburban Railway network of Thessaloniki and the railway connection of the 6th pier of the port of Thessaloniki is being accelerated. It is currently in the design maturity phase to enable the submission of tenders in 2025 for the award of the contractor.

At the same time, Mr. Palios stressed, the existing railway network is being upgraded with €438.5 million in contracted projects, most of which are at an advanced stage of construction.

Finally, the ERGOSE CEO stressed that all these rail projects are vital and are changing the landscape of passenger and freight transport, adding that within 2025, contractors will be selected for projects worth €1 billion.

"Rail is by far the most environmentally friendly form of transport, and Europe, recognising the importance of sustainable rail infrastructure in promoting green transport, has mobilised significant funds in recent years to complete cross-border rail projects.

On the basis of this green European policy, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport has set as its main objective the strengthening of the role of the railways and our aim at ERGOSE is to build a modern, safe and environmentally friendly rail network so that the Greek railways can play a leading role in transport. In order to implement everything we have achieved so far, we make the most of the valuable experience of our people and their great potential.