Transport in Athens: Tram and Suburban Train

The tram and suburban train are alternative modes of transport to reach less-central areas (the coast, neighbourhoods in the outskirts of town, the north of the city, nearby towns…)

In the entry ‘Transport in Athens: the Metro’ (https://erasmusu.com/en/erasmus-athens/erasmus-blog/transport-in-athens-the-metro-687859) there are the prices and places where you can buy a ticket, although, as I mentioned, the payment system is in the process of changing, to electronic card specifically.

The Tram

(Map of the tram lines in Athens, the public transport system)

*The tram: το τραμ (to tram)

*Station/ stop: η στάση (i stási)

The tram is a system that started less than a century ago in the city, and covers the urbanised coastal area, connecting it to the centre.

The fares and tickets correspond to the metro and bus system, and there are machines where you can buy them in every tram station.

Timetables:

- Sundays to Thursdays: 5:30 am - 00:15 am

- Fridays and Saturdays: 5:30 am - 02:15 am (last tram from Syntagma)

* Between June and September, the tram runs for 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays *

- Frequency: every 15 minutes or so (at the beginning and end of the day, they run every 25 minutes or so)

There are three lines, each with a different colour, just like the metro:

1. Line 1 (red): connects Syntagma and Piraeus (the port)

· Cross-platform interchange with the metro Line 2 (red) at: Syntagma, Sigrou Fix and Neos Kosmos

· Cross-platform interchange with the metro Line 1 (green) at: Piraeus (port)

2. Line 2 (green): connects Syntagma and Glyfada (one of the most esteemed neighbourhoods)

· Cross-platform interchange with the metro Line 2 (red) at: Syntagma, Sigrou Fix and Neos Kosmos.

3. Line 3 (blue): connects Piraeus with Glyfada (coastal route)

· Cross-platform interchange with the metro Line 1 (green) at: Piraeus (port)

As a personal comment, the tram is a good system, normally it isn’t too full but it does judder an awful lot. It has a system with televisions that display the next stops, with the announcement in Greek and English. The stations are relatively close to one another and it doesn’t take a lot of time, but, for example, if you have to quickly get from Syntagma to the Piraeus Port I would recommend you take the metro, as it’s much quicker.

References: for more information, you can click here https://www.introducingathens.com/tram

Suburban Train (Suburban Railway)

(Semi-physical map of the Suburban Railway in Athens)

Suburban Railway: προαστιακός (proastiacós)

The suburban train is the best for covering large distances from the centre. As I mentioned earlier, it connects the airport, the port, the suburbs and other Greek cities. If you think about it, it’s like the Madrid Cercanías Renfe (or the London underground/ over ground) with its trains that cover medium to large distances, passing through the centre of the city. There are also suburban railways in the cities of Patras and Thessaloniki, but we’re interested in the one in Athens.

The company that runs it is TRAINOSE (http://www.trainose.gr/)

Tickets and fares

- For sections Piraeus – SKA and Magoula - Koropi: the price is the same as that of other means of transport (published in: https://erasmusu.com/en/erasmus-athens/erasmus-blog/transport-in-athens-the-metro-687859)

- For the airport and further-away stations: to use these, you have to pay a little more, so remember to pay your ticket according to your destinations before taking the train.

- For medium- to long-distance journeys (intercity): you can book and buy tickets online on their webpage, as it has fares according to time of departure and duration of the journey. This is the company’s intercity search engine and comparison site:

- https://tickets.trainose.gr/dromologia/?lang=en#view=search;apo=ΑΘΗΝ;pros=ΘΕΣΣ;date=2016-12-26;trip_type=return;return_date=2016-12-29

Where to buy my ticket

You can buy them in any train station, just like with the metro system, if you’re moving around the city.

If you’re going to make a journey, you can buy a ticket online (tickets. trainose.gr) or at the sales stands of the company: Suburban Railway stations and TRAINOSE travel agencies.

Connections with the metro:

1. Green Line: Piraeus (por) // Nerarziotissa (North)

2. Red Line Larissa Station (centre, between Victoria and Metaksourgio)

3. Blue Line: D Plakentias // Airport

Suburban Railway Lines (TRAINOSE)

Frequency: usually less often than other systems, between 15 and 20 minutes in general.

Personally, I can only say to you to be very attentive to which train you take, because if you make a mistake you can end up in the Greek steppe (plains) (I exaggerate, of course, but look carefully! ). Aside from that, it’s the fastest mode of transport.

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