Hello today I am gonna introduce you the Athens to Tithorea Line, with the official name in Greece is "S.K.A (Rail center of Acharnae) - Tithorea Line" A 156km Electrified Line that starts from Athens Central Station. Passing the suburbs of Athens and transitioning to the valleys of Central Greece, Terminating in Tithorea with a view of Mount Parnassus in the distance. The whole route time is about 1:10 depending on the weather & service type. Also, there are Regional service that shares most of the Main route to Oinoi ( inoi ) - Terminating service there - Approximate time 47 minutes. Then splitting from the main line to Chalkida (out-of-bound service). The route mostly focuses on passenger operations. Route information: current operator: Hellenic Train (FS / Trenitalia) Operator Page: https://www.hellenictrain.gr/en Electrification/Tracks: 25kV 50Hz - Double Track Max Permitted Track Speed: 200 KM/H Track Gauge: Standard Gauge 1,435 mm Total Stations: 13 Known Safety Systems: E.R.T.M.S. Level 1, E.T.C.S Level 0 - 1 & GSM-R GR Stations per service With their respective names: *InterCity (to Thessaloniki - Out of bounds service), 5 Stops: Athens - Oinoi ( inoi ) - Thiva (Theba/Thebes) - Levadia - Tithorea & vice versa to Athens *Regional 520/521 (to Lianokladi - out of bounds service), 13 Stops : Athens - SKA (Rail Center of Acharnae) - Oinoi ( inoi ) - Tanagra - Thiva (Theba/ Thebes) - Aliartos - Ypsilantis - Alalkomenae - Levadia - Cheronia - Davlia - Parorion ( Parori ) - Tithorea & vice versa to Athens *Regional (to Chalkida - out of bounds service), 12 Stops : Athens - Agioi anargyroi - SKA (Rail center of Acharnae) - Acharnae - Dekelia - Agios Stefanos - Afidnae - Sfendali - Avlonas - Agios Thomas - Oinofita ( inofita ) - Oinoi ( inoi ) & Vice versa to Athens Rolling Stock (X = train number): ** (OSE) Hellenic Train Class 120 "Siemens Hellas Sprinter" Based on Siemens ES64P, comes with a power of 5000 kW, Tractive effort of 300 kN and a max Speed of 200 KM/H. UIC: 91 73 0120-0xx GR-OSE ( now GR-HTR ) Blue Livery (Picture by me) Classic Livery (Picture Credit: YT - PCMVideoWebTVgr ) (OSE) Hellenic Train Class 220 "Marlboro" Based in ADtranz's DE/Octeon series (Later Bombardier), the DE2000 or Class 220 "Marlboro" is a Diesel-Electric Locomotive with 2x MTU 12V396TC13 12cylinder engines producing 2100 kW of power, Top speed of 160 KM/H Starting tractive effort of 260kN - Continuous Effort after 25km/h 230kN & Braking effort of 160kN.. UIC: 92 73 0220-0xx GR-OSE ( Now GR-HTR ) (Picture Credit: YT - Rails & Trains) (OSE) Hellenic Train Class 460 - Siemens Desiro Classic EMU5 The Classic Desiro family from Siemens, a staple in railways. With Power of 3840kW & a max Speed of 160 KM/H. Still a decent performer. UIC: 94 73 0460-xxx GR-OSE ( now GR-HTR ) (Picture Credit: Ray O'Brien) FS Class ETR470 Refurbished by Alstom. Removed all power systems, renewed the 25kV 50Hz and re-liveried. The classic ETR from Italy is back in Service. Power 6600kW, Max speed 250 KM/H - Max permitted (for now) 160 KM/H. ETR has 2 UIC codes: 93 73 34-70 00x-0 GR-HTR in front (1st class) cab & 93 73 44-70 00x-0 GR-HTR in back (2nd class) cab. (Picture Credit: Nikos Karageorgos) Coaches: (Picture(s) Credit: vagonWEB.cz & TheOpinion.gr) ----All coaches are Siemens Viaggio ADmz: Bmpz: WRmz: Cab Ride Athens - Oinoi ( inoi ) | Credit: YT - The Hellenic Trainspotters Cab Ride Davlia - Tithorea - Lianokladi - Paleofarsalos | Credit: YT - Sidirodromeas This Specific line in also the main Athens - Thessaloniki line. But decided to cut it in half due to being extremely big (507ish Km). So Tithorea is a sweet spot of Length, Speed and Time. Also, apologies if station names cannot be pronounced. Doors Operated by Conductors/Train Staff - * Some IC And Regional 520/521 services can be done with either Class 120 / 220. 4 daily back-and-forth IC services performed by ETR 470 Pendolino 24 daily back-and-forth Regional services Performed by Desiro EMU-5. I took the 2022 - 2025 route period because it's easy to take a license through FS/Trenitalia. ** Hellas Sprinter 120-012 , 120-022 & 120-023 Destroyed at Tempe Valley in 2023. Hellas Sprinter H564 "never re-numbered 120-004 " had an Accident in 2000 - Never restored. Hellas Sprinter 120-007 Leased to Rail Cargo Logistics Goldair (ÖBB Member). Thanks for taking the time to read this..... Feedback appreciated.
I'm not letting this thread die, so here's a video. Passenger and Freight Trains near Aliartos, March 2025. Aliartos station is 37 minutes away from Tithorea with Regional Train 520/521. Credit to " The Hellenic Trainspotters " on YouTube for the video.
Great suggestion the fact that's the route is in a different country makes it interesting the loco that I really like in the route is the ETR470 and the Hellenic train class 220 and the Hellenic train class 460 because of their unique design
Good call, though really no Greek railway experience would be complete without one of those noisy, black smoke belchimg Alco’s!
the old line is still in service? It was very spectacular landscape and engineering wise. And the stomping ground for those ALCo's
Sadly no. The only lines that are operational are the: "New" Athens - Thessaloniki line (aka Pireaus - Platy line | plus intermediate stops) & the regional - Suburban railway - Diakopto tourist line(s).
Forgot to add the Railways map(s) 1) Map 1 from 2020 | Credit: Hellenic Railways Organisation "HRO" - GR: Organismos Sidirodromon Ellados "OSE" 2) Map 2 from 2022 - Applies to current year 2025, with only change: Train service(s) 881/882 to/from Athens - Paleofarsalos - Kalambaka stopped (Hellenic Train Bus service available) | Credit: Philip Mallis
Any Greek route would be welcome. Has the rest of the Metre gauge network been officially abandoned? All the tracks around Korinthos and Kalamata were still there when I last visited.
From Athens to Kiato (plus intermediate stops) is Dual track - fully electrified standard gauge. The old metre gauge line is untouched & out of service, Although there is a railbiking project that allows to use parts of the line (Website: https://www.rail-biking.com/ ) The only active metre gauge as of 2025 is the Peloponnese: Katakolo - Olympia line & Proastiakos Patras (Patras Suburban Railway).
DTG shouldn't have a problem with bringing this route to TSW5 also since to rolling stock is not too hard to make like for one you mentioned: Hellenic Train Class 460 Easy just reuse the DB BR 642 and add more Coaches and change some things then DONE! And the Coaches... easy just reuse the other German Coaches from routesand change some things then DONE! Although there's one thing..... Which is licensing, but it won't be a big problem after all I would definitely buy it even for £35.99
Hellenic Train Class 120 Hellas Sprinter | IC54 & IC55 Services at R.S. Tithorea Video by me (apologies for the aspect ratio, forgot to change it)
IC, Freight and Test trains at Avlonas (Avlon) Station. Credit: YT: Hellas Trainspotting - Railway photography
Some ETR470 action, most of the clips are from Central Greece (except Oinoi [Inoi] station, Part of Attica). Credit: YT - Rails & Trains
