Thessaloniki Metro

Thessaloniki Metro
New Railway Station, the western terminus of both lines
Overview
Native nameΜετρό Θεσσαλονίκης
OwnerElliniko Metro
LocaleThessaloniki, Greece
Transit typeRapid transit
Number of lines1
Number of stations13
Daily ridership254,000 (projected)
Annual ridership92.7 million (projected)
Websitewww.thessmetro.gr
Operation
Began operation30 November 2024 (2024-11-30)
Operator(s)Thessaloniki Metro Automatic (THEMA)
CharacterUnderground
Number of vehicles18 Hitachi Rail Italy Driverless Metro, 15 more on order
Headway3.5 minutes
Technical
System length9.6 km (6.0 mi)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification750 V DC third rail
Top speed80 km/h (50 mph)

Thessaloniki Metro (Greek: Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης, listen) is an underground rapid-transit system in Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city. The system consists of a single line with 13 stations; a further 5 stations are under construction for Line 2. It is fully automated and driverless, the first system of its kind in Greece, and is operated by Thessaloniki Metro Automatic (THEMA), a Franco-Italian consortium.

Estimates for the cost of the megaproject are at 3 billion ($3.34 billion today), including €600 million ($670 million) in future interest payments. The project is primarily funded with loans from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), as well as funds from the Greek government. Construction by a Greco-Italian consortium is overseen by Elliniko Metro, the Greek state-owned company which oversaw the construction of the Athens Metro and Athens Tram.

Proposed during the 1910s and first seriously planned in the 1980s, construction of the main line began in 2006 and on the Kalamaria extension in 2013. After years of delays, due to archaeological discoveries and the Greek financial crisis, the 9.6 km (6.0 mi) Line 1 opened on 30 November 2024, with Line 2 expected to add a further 4.8 km (3.0 mi) of tunnels and 5 more stations to the system in late 2025.