THE ATHENIAN TRAM
In July 2004, a few days before the opening ceremony of the Athens 2004
Olympic Games, the tram once again became part of the life in the Greek
capital. Functioning at the edge of technology, it provides modern transportation
and stands out for the comforts affording to passengers. As a valuable
link of the global philosophy for the development of light-rail public
transportation, the Athenian tram travels through nine municipalities
in southern Athens, operating in conjunction with other types of urban
transportation and with direct connections to the metro and the railway
commuter train.
Europe's most scenic train ride
The
Athens tram route ranks among the most scenic in Europe, since a long
stretch of the network's 26 kilometres runs parallel to the Saronic Gulf,
while another stretch crosses the historic center of the capital. Moreover,
the tram travels by numerous Olympic facilities, a customary destination
for international tourists. Boarding from any of the coastal hotels or
from the city centre, Greek and international visitors use the tram for
their outings, heading towards tourist hot spots such as the nightclubs
lining the southern coastal strip or trendy suburbs such as Glyfada or
Nea Smyrni, equally popular for shopping or a dip in the blue waters of
any of the local organized beaches. Many passengers ride the tram for
a nice tour sitting comfortably inside one of its cars or in order to
visit some of the nearby historic or cultural sites or to hop to the garden
cafe at Zappion. The tram also services the coastal marinas, but also
significant sport and conference facilities, such as the Peace and Friendship
Stadium, the former Fencing Centre and the Karaiskakis Football Stadium.
Useful Information
Serving 47 stations at an average speed of 24 kilometres per hour - one
of the highest world wide - the Athenian tram connects the city centre
with the coastal strip and the southern suburbs via three lines:
1. SEF - Glyfada in 32 minutes.
2. Syntagma-SEF in 43 minutes and
3. Syntagma-Glyfada in 53 minutes
It is also very practical for shorter hops at a reduced fare.
Through its "cinematographic" windows, passengers have a unique opportunity
to enjoy a relaxing and scenic ride, since the area along the tram rails
has been beautifully landscaped with greenery. The tram network is slated
for an expansion shortly to the coastal suburb of Voula - where it will
service a significant infrastructure - while it is anticipated that by
2010 another expansion to Piraeus city centre and the local harbour will
be available to service thousands of travelers to and from the Greek islands.
Private transfers
Finally, through cooperation with tourist agencies, the tram offers the
opportunity for private transfer and tours on demand. Boasting 60,000
loyal passengers, a number that rises significantly during the summer
months, the tram dominates mass transportation in southern Athens; because
the tram is not just a means of mass transportation, it is a philosophy
of its own: the tram is a station in life!