MODERNISATION OF GREEK RAILWAYS

The management of the Greek railways investment programme by ERGA OSE S.A. is described. Modern project management techniques are applied to new areas such as railway electrification, modern signalling, tunnel construction for high speed alignments, and the development of freight villages. The most important projects included in the OSE Investment Programme 2000-2006 include modernisation of the railway corridor Piraeus-Athens-Thessaloniki-Idomeni, development of the Attiki suburban railway, modernisation of the Athens-Patra line, construction of the freight village in Thriassio-Pedio and connection with Neo Ikonoi Port, upgrading the Thessaloniki-Strimona-Alexandropouli-Ormenio line, and improvement of West Macedonia standard gauge and Peloponnisos metric gauge networks. Tunnel construction is an important element in several projects because of the irregular terrain and geology. Slab track is being installed because of the poor quality of available ballast.