In a deal in Rome that proved to be strategic, the Greek government has managed to get the Italians’ Hellenic Train to say “yes” to direct investment in Greek railways.

With an agreement in Rome that proved to be strategic, the Greek government managed to get the “yes” of the Italians of Hellenic Train for direct investments in Greek railways.

The commitment of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for a safe railway with modern trains before 2027 was the starting point for the negotiations for the revision of the contract with the Italian Ferrovie Dello Stato Italiane, the parent company of Hellenic Train.

Despite their initial reservations, the Italians agreed to “put their hand in their pocket” and committed to proceed with the immediate implementation of a €360 million investment programme. A programme that, among other things, provides for the purchase of 23 new trains, including 8 intercity express trains and 15 suburban trains. As far as the suburban train is concerned, this is the first time since the start of operation of the vehicle, i.e. shortly before the 2004 Olympic Games, that new trains have been purchased.

Equipped trains with safety systems

Under the deal, the new trains will be ordered this year and will replace the second-hand “silver arrows”, 30 years old, brought in by the Italian company under the original deal in 2017 with the Greek state. The age of the trains currently in use is largely responsible for the poor performance of the Greek railway, with a negative record of 1.7 breakdowns per day. It is worth noting that the new trains will be equipped with all the safety systems.

The second part of the Rome agreement provides for the creation of modern depots for the long-term maintenance of the trains. This is also an important commitment that will answer another major problem that tarnishes the image of the railways. The inadequate maintenance of trains.

Konstantinos Kyranakis: New trains, new infrastructure, a new page for the country

“The Italians are investing, we are working hard and together we are building a railway that the citizens deserve. New trains, new infrastructure, a new page for the country. This cooperation has prospects and we are laying solid foundations for the coming years,” Deputy Transport Minister Konstantinos Kyranakis told APE-MPA.

The arguments that convinced the Italians

Critical, however, for the development of the negotiations between the Greek and Italian state was the meeting that Deputy Transport Minister Constantine Kyranakis had a fortnight ago with the Italian Vice President of the Government and responsible for transport Mateo Salvini.

At that meeting, according to sources at the Transport Ministry, the deputy minister, in close consultation with Maximou, put all the Greek arguments on the negotiating table, which finally convinced the Italian side to commit to the investment plan.

The recent signing of the contracts, worth 450 million euros, for the rehabilitation of the railway network in Thessaly, with a tight timetable for public sector projects and with an implementation horizon of just 15 months, contributed to the agreement. An agreement that was sealed a few days later in the meeting between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his Italian counterpartGeorgia Meloni.

Greek commitment to substantive projects

A necessary guarantee of credibility on the part of the Greek side was the commitment to substantial network upgrade projects, such as the installation of the ETCS automatic braking system and telecommand throughout the network, the undergrounding project at Sepolia, and the new safety valves provided for in the forthcoming bill for the modernization of the railway: Unified Supervision Centre, operation of an accurate geolocation system for trains, measures to prevent sabotage on the network.

The commitments of the Italian giant, Ferrovie dello Stato, will be clearly reflected in the new revised contract of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport with Hellenic Train with clauses on timetables. The same will happen with OSE’s obligations for the projects it has to execute in a fast pace.