International trains to Greece back ?

[Marc Van Dyck]

If the following article is correct :

http://www.imerisia.gr/article.asp?catid=26510&subid=2&pubid=113250552

International trains to Grèce will be back as of May 10th.

From Belgrade et de Sofia. Nothing yet from Istanbul...


--

[Theo Markettos]

Post by Marc Van Dyck
http://www.imerisia.gr/article.asp?catid=26510&subid=2&pubid=113250552
International trains to Grèce will be back as of May 10th.

Interesting that they're now both day trains, when in the past the only way
to cross the Bulgarian border was at night.

Ticket prices haven't been radically increased either.

Theo

[Track212]

Post by Theo Markettos

Post by Marc Van Dyck
http://www.imerisia.gr/article.asp?catid=26510&subid=2&pubid=113250552
International trains to Grèce will be back as of May 10th.

Interesting that they're now both day trains, when in the past the only way
to cross the Bulgarian border was at night.
Ticket prices haven't been radically increased either.
Theo

In 2007 I rode the day (!) train from Sofia to Thessaloniki, albeit
arriving after dark, and the 2009 Cook's also shows the connection as a
day train.

[Nick Fotis]

Let's see, I have read so many triumphant pronouncements which have not
materialized in the recent years, that I have become even more cynical
than normal.

In short, "I'll believe it only when I see it running"

N.F.

[Nick Fotis]

In Saturday, the first international trains from Thessaloniki (Greece)
to Beograd (via Skopje) and Sofia restarted operation.

The press release is in Greek:
http://www.trainose.gr/nea/deltio-typoy-07052014-epanenarksi-diethnon-sidirodromikon-dromologion-thessaloniki-skopia-beligr

There is a train pair per day in each corridor:
Thessaloniki-Sofia: dep 06:55 - arr 13:45
Sofia - Thessaloniki: dep 15:30 - arr 22:22
One way ticket costs 16.80 Euros, return is 33.60. There will be 12
advance seats available at lower prices in each trip.

Thessaloniki-Skopje-Beograd: dep 15:52 - arr 19:50 (Skopje, local time)
- arr 05:33 (Beograd, local time)
Beograd - Skopje - Thessaloniki: dep 18:45 (local time) - dep 05:15
(Skopje, local time) - arr 11:16 (Thessaloniki)
This train is expected to offer couchettes and (in summer) a car
transport service for end-to-end passengers (between Thessaloniki and
Beograd)
Current prices are set at:
Thessaloniki-Skopje 12.20 Euros, 19.50 return
Thessaloniki-Beograd 33.80 Euros, 54.10 return

N.F.

[Marc Van Dyck]

In Saturday, the first international trains from Thessaloniki (Greece) to
Beograd (via Skopje) and Sofia restarted operation.

This is great news. In their latest issue, Today's Railways Europe
also mentions a new train between Alexandoupolis and Svilengrad.
Any info on this ?

And finally, do you know whether there is any hope to see passenger
trains between Greece and Turkey again ?

[Nick Fotis]

Post by Marc Van Dyck

Post by Nick Fotis
In Saturday, the first international trains from Thessaloniki (Greece)
to Beograd (via Skopje) and Sofia restarted operation.

This is great news. In their latest issue, Today's Railways Europe
also mentions a new train between Alexandoupolis and Svilengrad.
Any info on this ?

As far as I know, 1-2 trains per day reached Svilengrad from
Alexandroupolis in the past.
I do not think these trains venture beyond Dikaia at the moment.
This route is very far from Athens, so I never explored it fully.
If you wish, I will research it furthermore.

Post by Marc Van Dyck
And finally, do you know whether there is any hope to see passenger
trains between Greece and Turkey again ?

Probably by next Fall the "Dostluk Express" will restart operation, I
have nothing firmer on hand.

N.F.

[tim.....]

Post by Nick Fotis

Post by Marc Van Dyck

Post by Nick Fotis
In Saturday, the first international trains from Thessaloniki (Greece)
to Beograd (via Skopje) and Sofia restarted operation.

This is great news. In their latest issue, Today's Railways Europe
also mentions a new train between Alexandoupolis and Svilengrad.
Any info on this ?

As far as I know, 1-2 trains per day reached Svilengrad from
Alexandroupolis in the past.
I do not think these trains venture beyond Dikaia at the moment.
This route is very far from Athens, so I never explored it fully.
If you wish, I will research it furthermore.

Post by Marc Van Dyck
And finally, do you know whether there is any hope to see passenger
trains between Greece and Turkey again ?

Probably by next Fall the "Dostluk Express" will restart operation, I have
nothing firmer on hand.

any hope of the Peloponnese narrow gauge service restarting?

(I know the Olympia shuttle still runs - or it did last time I looked)

tim





tim

[Nick Fotis]

Post by tim.....
any hope of the Peloponnese narrow gauge service restarting?
(I know the Olympia shuttle still runs - or it did last time I looked)
tim

The only meter gauge trains running regularly in Peloponnese region are
the commuter trains in Patras region, which seem pretty popular and run
on air-conditioned GTW2/6 multiple units.
These reach Rio station east of Patras and offer transit service to many
students.

No idea what happens with the Katakolo-Pyrghos-Olympia trains (I think
these run when cruise ships reach Katakolo seaport during tourist
season). Also, the Diakofto-Kalavryta rack railway continues to run,
isolated.

No hope for the rest of the network at the moment, as far as I know.
If/when TRAINOSE (the state-owned incumbent train operator) gets sold,
maybe the market will open for other operators.

N.F.

[tim.....]

Post by Nick Fotis

Post by tim.....
any hope of the Peloponnese narrow gauge service restarting?
(I know the Olympia shuttle still runs - or it did last time I looked)
tim

The only meter gauge trains running regularly in Peloponnese region are
the commuter trains in Patras region, which seem pretty popular and run on
air-conditioned GTW2/6 multiple units.
These reach Rio station east of Patras and offer transit service to many
students.
No idea what happens with the Katakolo-Pyrghos-Olympia trains (I think
these run when cruise ships reach Katakolo seaport during tourist season).
Also, the Diakofto-Kalavryta rack railway continues to run, isolated.
No hope for the rest of the network at the moment, as far as I know.
If/when TRAINOSE (the state-owned incumbent train operator) gets sold,
maybe the market will open for other operators.

thanks

but I doubt it could ever run commercially :-(

Post by Nick Fotis
N.F.

[Nobody]

Post by Nick Fotis
In Saturday, the first international trains from Thessaloniki (Greece)
to Beograd (via Skopje) and Sofia restarted operation.
http://www.trainose.gr/nea/deltio-typoy-07052014-epanenarksi-diethnon-sidirodromikon-dromologion-thessaloniki-skopia-beligr
Thessaloniki-Sofia: dep 06:55 - arr 13:45
Sofia - Thessaloniki: dep 15:30 - arr 22:22
One way ticket costs 16.80 Euros, return is 33.60. There will be 12
advance seats available at lower prices in each trip.
Thessaloniki-Skopje-Beograd: dep 15:52 - arr 19:50 (Skopje, local time)
- arr 05:33 (Beograd, local time)
Beograd - Skopje - Thessaloniki: dep 18:45 (local time) - dep 05:15
(Skopje, local time) - arr 11:16 (Thessaloniki)
This train is expected to offer couchettes and (in summer) a car
transport service for end-to-end passengers (between Thessaloniki and
Beograd)
Thessaloniki-Skopje 12.20 Euros, 19.50 return
Thessaloniki-Beograd 33.80 Euros, 54.10 return
N.F.

Wow. Those seem like incredibly cheap fares.