With an agreement in Rome that proved to be a strategy, the Greek government managed to get the “yes” of Hellenic Train Italians for immediate investment in Greek railway.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ commitment to safe railroads with modern trains before 2027 was the starting point for the negotiations in Rome to revise the contract with the Italian Ferrovie Dello Stato Italiane, a motherboard of the Hellenic Train, which resulted in the “package” of investment.
Despite their initial reservations, the Italians agreed to “put their hand in the pocket” and pledged to proceed with the immediate implementation of an investment program of € 360 million. A program that provides, among other things, the purchase of 23 new trains, including 8 intercity circulation and 15 suburban type. As for the suburban suburban, it is the first time since the start of the medium, that is, just before the 2004 Olympics, which are supplied with new trains.
Equipped trains with security systems
Under the agreement, the new trains will be ordered this year and replace the used “silver arrows”, aged 30, the Italian company had brought under the original agreement in 2017 with the Greek State. After all, the old trains used today is largely responsible for the bad image on the Greek railway with the negative record of 1.7 damage per day. It is worth noting that the new trains will be equipped with all the security systems.
The second part of the Rome Agreement provides for the creation of modern trains for long -term maintenance of trains. An important commitment that will respond to yet another big problem, which tarnishes the image of the railway. The improper maintenance of the trains.
Konstantinos Kiranakis: New Trains, New Infrastructure, New Page for the country
“The Italians are investing, we work hard and we build a rail that deserves the citizens. New trains, new infrastructure, new page for the country. This cooperation has a prospect and we are laying strong foundations for the coming years, “Deputy Minister of Transport Konstantinos Kiranakis told RES-EIA.
Arguments that convinced the Italians
However, critical to the development of negotiations between the Greek and Italian state was the ten -day meeting of Deputy Minister of Transport, Konstantinos Kyranakis with the Italian Vice -President of the Government and Matthew Salvini.
At that meeting, according to sources from the Ministry of Transport, the Deputy Minister, in close consultation with the Maximus Palace, put all the Greek arguments on the negotiating table, which eventually persuaded the Italian side to commit to the investment plan.
The recent signing of the € 450m contract for the restoration of the Thessaly rail network, with a tight timetable for public works and with a 15 -month implementation horizon, has contributed to the agreement. An agreement that was sealed a few days later at the meeting of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis with his Italian counterpart George Meloni.
Greek commitment to substance works
An indispensable confinement on the part of the Greek side was the commitment to substantial network upgrading projects, such as the installation of an automatic braking system of ETCS and telecommunications throughout the network, the underground project in Sepolia, as well as the new Security Functional System: Train geotoism, measures to prevent sabotage on the network.
Italian colossus commitments, Ferrovie Dello Stato, will be clearly reflected in the new revised contract of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport with the Hellenic Train with clauses for timetables. The same will happen with OSE’s obligations on the projects he must perform at a rapid pace.
Source: RES-EIA