Thessaloniki Metro#Archaeology

The system is commonly known as the Thessaloniki Metro ({{langx|el|Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης|translit=Metró Thessaloníkis}}, {{IPA|el|meˈtro θesaloˈnicis||}}, {{Audio|Metro Thessalonikis pronunciation.ogg|listen|help=no}}), but is sometimes also referred to by the more formal name of Thessaloniki Metropolitan Railway ({{langx|el|Μητροπολιτικός Σιδηρόδρομος Θεσσαλονίκης|translit=Mitropolitikós Sidiródromos Thessaloníkis}}, {{Audio|Mitropolitikos Sidirodromos Thessalonikis pronunciation.ogg|listen|help=no}}).{{cite web |url=https://ypodomes.com/metro-thessalonikis-pente-stathmoi-moyseia-kai-o-megalyteros-diethnos-archaiologikos-choros-entagmenos-se-meizon-techniko-ergo/ |title=Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης: οι 5 νέοι σταθμοί – μουσεία & οι 2 νέοι αρχαιολογικοί χώροι |website=www.ypodomes.gr |date=5 October 2024 |access-date=26 November 2024 |trans-title=Thessaloniki Metro: the 5 new museum-stations & the 2 new archaeological sites |language=Greek |quote=Σε λίγους μήνες, αποδίδεται στην Θεσσαλονίκη, ο Μητροπολιτικός Σιδηρόδρομος [...]. |trans-quote=In a few months, the Metropolitan Railway is being delivered to Thessaloniki [...].}}

{{anchor|Proposals in the 1910s and 1980s}}

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|caption=Map of the Thomas Mawson metropolitan railway proposal ({{circa|1918}}), running between the 1 New Railway Station and 2 Nea Elvetia. The line is x20px underground along Egnatia street, but becomes x20px overground beyond the University.{{cite book |first1=Aristotelis |last1=Naniopoulos |first2=Dimitrios |last2=Nalmpantis |url=https://docplayer.gr/3368817-Systiuata-statheris-trohias-stin-poli-tis-thessalonikis-istoriki-anadroui-1889-1968.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814171703/https://docplayer.gr/3368817-Systiuata-statheris-trohias-stin-poli-tis-thessalonikis-istoriki-anadroui-1889-1968.html |archive-date=14 August 2018 |title=Συστήµατα σταθερής τροχιάς στην πόλη της Θεσσαλονίκης. Ιστορική αναδροµή (1889-1968) |trans-title=Fixed-track systems in Thessaloniki. Historical Retrospective (1889-1968) |publisher=Aristotle University of Thessaloniki |access-date=14 August 2018 |language=el}}

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Ernest Hébrard and Thomas Hayton Mawson were the first to propose the creation of a metro system in Thessaloniki in 1918 as part of a commission appointed by the government of Eleftherios Venizelos to redesign the city after the Great Fire of 1917, which had devastated the city centre.{{Cite book |first=Alexandra |last=Gerolympou |title=Η Ανοικοδόμηση της Θεσσαλονίκης Μετά την Πυρκαγιά του 1917 |trans-title=The Rebuilding of Thessaloniki after the Great Fire of 1917 |edition=Second |publisher=Aristotle University of Thessaloniki University Press |language=el |year=1995}} They proposed an underground railway to connect the New Railway Station and Nea Elvetia, terminus for a proposed railway connecting Mikra and the Strymonic Gulf.{{cite magazine |date=11 June 1919 |title=The Rebuilding of Salonika |magazine=Architects' Journal |location=London |publisher=The Architectural Press |url=https://archive.org/details/buildersjournala4919unse/page/440/mode/2up |access-date=20 November 2024 |quote=The plans of this scheme which have been finally prepared by Mr. Thomas H. Mawson, of London, include [...] two railway stations connected by an underground line [...]. |page=440}}{{cite book |date=1918 |title=Αἱ Ἀθῆναι τοῦ Μέλλοντος καὶ ἡ Θεσσαλονίκη της Αὔριον |trans-title=The Athens of the Future and the Thessaloniki of Tomorrow |first=Thomas Hayton |last=Mawson |location=Athens |publisher=National Printing House |url=https://anemi.lib.uoc.gr/php/pdf_pager.php?rec=/metadata/4/b/1/metadata-b1c52c5b6e049c7b2eb0e39f15a6776e_1245674713.tkl&do=68728_w.pdf&pageno=1&width=841&height=595&pagestart=1&maxpage=11&lang=en |access-date=22 November 2024 |quote=Ἐπίσης διὰ πιθανὸν σταθμόν-τέρμα-διὰ μίαν νέαν γραμμὴν ἑνοῦσα τὸν κόλπον Μικροῦ μὲ τὸν κόλπον τοῦ Ὀρφανοῦ. Μεταξὺ τῶν δύο τούτων σταθμῶν προτείνεται ὑπόγειος ἠλεκτρικὸς σιδηρόδρομος ὑπὸ τὴν ὁδὸν Ἰγνατίου ἐπὶ τίνα ἀπόστασιν διὰ σήραγγος καὶ κατόπιν ἐπὶ τοῦ ἐδάφους. Ἡ γραμμὴ αὐτὴ ὑπολογίζεται ὅτι θὰ γείνη ἡ μεγάλη «Κεντρική της πόλεως» γραμμὴ ἡ ἐξυπηρετοῦσα τὴν μεταφορᾶν τῶν ἐπιβατῶν. |trans-quote=Also by a possible terminus station for a new line connecting the bay of Mikra to the bay of Orphanos. Between these two stations an underground electric railway is proposed under [Egnatia] street, for some length in a tunnel, thereafter at grade. This line is estimated to become the great "Central line" of the city, serving the transportation of passengers. |page=10 |language=Greek}} Although Thessaloniki has grown considerably since Hébrard's original design, Line 1 is almost identical to his plan and runs from his proposed new railway station to the suburb of Nea Elvetia.{{cite web |url=http://www.voria.gr/article/pos-to-schedio-emprar-allaxe-tin-ikona-tis-thessalonikis |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813210533/http://www.voria.gr/article/pos-to-schedio-emprar-allaxe-tin-ikona-tis-thessalonikis |archive-date=13 August 2018 |title=Πώς το σχέδιο Εμπράρ άλλαξε την εικόνα της Θεσσαλονίκης |trans-title=How the Hébrard plan changed the image of Thessaloniki |website=www.voria.gr |access-date=10 August 2018 |language=el }}

A circular metro line was proposed in 1968, extending to the airport and crossing the Thermaic Gulf in a tunnel. The projects never materialised. The Thessaloniki chapter of the Technical Chamber of Greece started considering a metro system in 1976,{{cite interview |last=Kouvelas |first=Sotiris |subject-link=Sotiris Kouvelas |interviewer=Stephanos Diamantopoulos |title=Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης: Μία πικρή ιστορία |trans-title=Thessaloniki Metro: A bitter history |via=Spotify |location=Thessaloniki |date=5 September 2024 |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/1leyT81TUMuMGIBrh5JUIn?si=Mu_zPPMFTI6Fft5MijaiHA |publisher= Radio Thessaloniki 94,5 |work=Πρώτες Ώρες |access-date=4 December 2024 |archive-date=4 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204202353/https://open.spotify.com/episode/1leyT81TUMuMGIBrh5JUIn?si=XeMQq_T0R9iiyyayPRTEww&nd=1&dlsi=167a48907e734ce3 |language=Greek |url-status=live |ref={{harvid|Kouvelas}}}} 3:45{{endash}}3:57 the same year a funding code for the project was incorporated into the national budget under Konstantinos Karamanlis.{{Cite web |last=Kaltsidi |first=Maria |date=29 November 2024 |title=Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης: Από το 1918… στο 2024 – Ένα έργο που πέρασε από «χίλια μύρια κύματα» |trans-title=Thessaloniki Metro: From 1918… to 2024 – A project that passed through "a thousand myriad waves" |website=www.ert.gr |publisher=Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation |url=https://www.ertnews.gr/video/metro-thessalonikis-apo-to-1918-sto-2024-ena-ergo-pou-perase-apo-xilia-myria-kymata/ |language=Greek}} In 1978, Savvas Pylarinos, governor of the Thessaloniki region, recommended that a metro be incorporated into the city plan.{{Cite news |title=Περικλείει σοβαρότατους κινδύνους ὁ γιγαντισμὸς τῆς Θεσσαλονίκης καὶ ἡ ἔλλειψη ρυθμιστικοῦ σχεδίου |trans-title=The sprawl of Thessaloniki and the lack of a city plan entail very serious dangers |url=http://efimeris.nlg.gr/ns/pdfwin.asp?c=124&dc=18&db=5&da=1978 |page=7 |publisher=Makedonia |language=Greek |publication-place=Thessaloniki |publication-date=18 May 1978 |quote=Στὸ χωροταξικὸ σχεδιασμὸ ἐνδεικτικὰ ἀναφέρω, ἀντιμετοπίζουμε καὶ θὰ ἀντιμετωπίσουμε προβλήματα ὅπως π.χ. τοῦ Εὐρωλιμένος ἢ τοῦ νοσηλευτικοῦ χωριοῦ, τοῦ "μετρὸ" ἢ τοῦ χονδρεμπορίου [...] |trans-quote=Indicatively I will mention that in the urban plan we are facing and will face problems such as, for example, the Europort or the nursing village, the "metro" or wholesale trade [...]}}

The idea of a metro was revived in the late 1980s, after a more than three-fold increase in car use over the preceding decade.{{cite magazine |last=Profillidis |first=Vasilios |date=22 May 1987 |title=Οι προοπτικές κατασκευής δικτύου ελαφρύ μετρό στη Θεσσαλονίκη. Μελέτη των χωροταξικών, κυκλοφοριακών, και συγκοινωνιακών δεδομένων. Προτάσεις μιας κατ' αρχήν χάραξης ενός δικτύου ελαφρού μετρό και εκτίμηση του κόστους. Φάσεις μελέτης για μια ορθολογική προσέγγιση του προβλήματος. |url=https://sfs.gr/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/%CE%A3%CE%B9%CE%B4%CE%B7%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%84%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%87%CE%B9%CE%AC-%CE%A4%CE%B5%CF%8D%CF%87%CE%BF%CF%82-2A-%CE%88%CE%BA%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BA%CF%84%CE%BF-%CE%9F%CE%BA%CF%84-1987.pdf |trans-title=The prospects for the construction of a light metro network in Thessaloniki. Study of spatial, traffic and transportation data. Proposals for an in-principle design of a light metro network and cost estimation. Phases of study for a rational approach to the problem. |location=Athens |access-date=20 November 2024 |magazine=Scientific Conference of the Transportation Engineering Laboratory of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki on the topic of "Mass Transportation on fixed tracks (tram and metro) in Thessaloniki" |via=Sydirotrochia ('Railway Track') magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203095901/https://sfs.gr/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/%CE%A3%CE%B9%CE%B4%CE%B7%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%84%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%87%CE%B9%CE%AC-%CE%A4%CE%B5%CF%8D%CF%87%CE%BF%CF%82-2A-%CE%88%CE%BA%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BA%CF%84%CE%BF-%CE%9F%CE%BA%CF%84-1987.pdf |archive-date=3 December 2024 |language=Greek |pages=13{{endash}}17}} In 1987, the University of Thessaloniki Transport Engineering Laboratory, under Vasilios Profillidis, published a proposal for an extensive, multi-branch light metro system, envisioned to be underground only between the New Railway Station and {{metro|Sintrivani}}, at a cost of {{nowrap|₯28 billion}} ({{nowrap|${{Inflation|US|{{To USD|28000|Greece|year=1987|round=yes}}|1987}} million}} today). The city government, under Mayor Sotiris Kouvelas, adopted a modified version of this plan a year later.{{Cite news |last=Ioannidou |first=Despina |date=2 December 2024 |title=Κούβελας - Πενέλης: Οι πρωταγωνιστές του 1986 μιλούν στο Liberal |trans-title=Kouvelas - Penelis: The protagonists of [the] 1986 [proposal] speak to Liberal |url=https://www.liberal.gr/politiki/koybelas-penelis-oi-protagonistes-toy-1986-miloyn-sto-liberal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204204708/https://www.liberal.gr/politiki/koybelas-penelis-oi-protagonistes-toy-1986-miloyn-sto-liberal |archive-date=4 December 2024 |access-date=4 December 2024 |publisher=www.liberal.gr |language=Greek}} The line was almost identical to the modern line, with 14 stations between the New Railway Station and {{metro|Nea Elvetia}}.{{cite web |url=https://www.karfitsa.gr/ki-omos-to-metro-thessalonikis-einai-et/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817233820/https://www.karfitsa.gr/ki-omos-to-metro-thessalonikis-einai-et/ |archive-date=17 August 2018 |title=Κι όμως! Το ΜΕΤΡΟ Θεσσαλονίκης είναι έτοιμο (στα χαρτιά) από το 1987! |trans-title=It's true! The Thessaloniki Metro was ready (on paper) in 1987 already! |website=www.karfitsa.gr |date=29 February 2016 |access-date=13 August 2018 |language=el}}{{Better source needed|date=December 2024}} The plan had one additional station, Patrikiou, between {{metro|25 Martiou}} and {{metro|Voulgari}} and had alternative names for three stations. {{metro|Dimokratias}} is shown as Vardari, an alternative name for the public square served by the station; {{metro|Venizelou}} is listed as Alkazar (the name of Hamza Bey Mosque when it was converted into a cinema), and {{metro|Efkleidis}} is shown as Archaeological Museum. The network would be within the city limits, excluding Kalamaria and a large portion of Thessaloniki's metropolitan area. Of the {{convert|7.77|km|mi|abbr=on}} of track proposed, {{convert|6.26|km|mi|abbr=on}} would be underground and {{convert|1.51|km|mi|abbr=on}} above ground.{{Better source needed|date=December 2024}}

File:Thessaloniki Metro 1988.svg

In 1989, construction began on the first {{convert|650|m|ft}} of tunnel along Egnatia street between the Thessaloniki International Fair grounds and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (the present {{metro|Panepistimio|Thessaloniki}} station), under the slogan Yes to the metro! Yes to quality of life! ({{langx|el|Ναι στο μετρό! Ναι στην ποιότητα ζωής!}}).{{Better source needed|date=December 2024}} Construction was carried out with the cut-and-cover method instead of a tunnel boring machine and was costed at a minimum of {{nowrap|₯120 billion}} ({{nowrap|${{Inflation|US|{{To USD|120|Greece|year=1988|r=3}}|1988|r=1}} billion}} today).

The line was designed to be only {{convert|2|m|ft}} below the road surface, but dropped to a minimum depth of {{convert|7|m|ft}} in the city centre at the insistence of the city's archaeological services.{{sfn|Kouvelas|loc=26:15{{endash}}26:50}} Although construction was scheduled to end in 1995, the project stalled and the unfinished (but excavated) initial cut-and-cover section became known as "the hole of Kouvelas" ({{langx|el|η τρύπα του Κούβελα}}).{{Cite news |last=Gaidatzis |first=Rafail |title=Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης: Τελικά τι ήταν η περιβόητη "τρύπα του Κούβελα" |trans-title=Thessaloniki Metro: So what was the infamous "hole of Kouvelas" in the end? |url=https://parallaximag.gr/thessaloniki-news/metro-thessalonikis-telika-ti-perilamvane-i-perivoiti-trypa-toy-koyvela |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204211437/https://parallaximag.gr/thessaloniki-news/metro-thessalonikis-telika-ti-perilamvane-i-perivoiti-trypa-toy-koyvela |archive-date=4 December 2024 |access-date=4 December 2024 |publisher=Parallaxi Magazine |language=Greek}} The water damage caused to the foundations of the nearby Polytechnic School by the excavation works persists to the present day, with water needing to be mechanically drained daily.

File:Thessaloniki Metro construction, 1989.png

The project ultimately failed due to funding issues and a lack of interest from the central government. A delegation from the city government received technical support from metro companies in Marseille, Düsseldorf, and West Berlin, as well as assurances from the leadership of the European Economic Community in Brussels that the project would be eligible for Community funding, but the central government blocked the talks and proposed a tram network instead.{{Citation |last=Kouvelas |first=Sotiris |title=Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης, ένας μελετημένος "εκβιασμός" |date=November 2024 |work=Αυτή η πόλη μας αξίζει |page=12 |editor-last=Christoforidou |editor-first=Sofia |trans-title=Thessaloniki Metro, a calculated "extortion" |url=https://www.makthes.gr/uploads/originals/217/oloklirometro2024.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203211726/https://www.makthes.gr/uploads/originals/217/oloklirometro2024.pdf |archive-date=3 December 2024 |url-status=live |place=Thessaloniki |publisher=Makedonia}} Kouvelas resigned as mayor in order to become Minister for Public Works in the national government after the 1989 elections, and made Thessaloniki's newly-created municipal radio station, {{nowrap|FM 100}}, responsible for the project's funding via ad revenue. He later admitted being aware it would not be an adequate source of funding, and claimed it was done to force the central government into funding the project.{{sfn|Kouvelas|loc=32:00{{endash}}32:50}} The project also suffered due to intense political polarisation between New Democracy (of which Kouvelas was a member) and the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) during the 1980s,{{sfn|Kouvelas|loc=33:40{{endash}}34:15}} with the PASOK-led neighbouring municipalities of Kalamaria and the western suburbs also refusing to support the project,{{cite podcast |url= https://www.lifo.gr/podcasts/wraia-pragmata/i-skliri-alitheia-gia-metro-thessalonikis |title=Η Σκληρή Αλήθεια για το Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης |trans-title=The Hard Truth about the Thessaloniki Metro |website= www.lifo.gr |publisher= LiFO Podcasts |host=Dimokidis, Aris |date= 14 December 2024 |access-date= 28 December 2024 |lang=Greek |series=Μικροπράγματα [Little Things] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225155040/https://www.lifo.gr/podcasts/wraia-pragmata/i-skliri-alitheia-gia-metro-thessalonikis |archive-date=25 December 2024 |url-status=live |ref={{harvid|Dimokidis}}}} 4:25{{endash}}5:05 leading to a metro design that ran exclusively within the limits of the {{nowrap|New Democracy-dominated}} Municipality of Thessaloniki (the modern Line 1).

In 1992 the government of Konstantinos Mitsotakis attempted to finance the project under a concession contract with a contractor budget of {{nowrap|₯65 billion}} ({{nowrap|${{Inflation|US|{{To USD|65000|Greece|year=1992|round=yes}}|1992}} million}} today).{{cite court |litigants=Makedoniko Metro and Mikhaniki AE v Elliniko Dimosio |reporter=European Court Reports |court=Court of Justice of the European Union, Sixth Chamber |date=23 January 2003 |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A62001CJ0057 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241205133003/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A62001CJ0057 |archive-date=5 December 2024 |access-date=5 December 2024 |url-status=live}} His government lost the 1993 Greek legislative election and a contractor was not appointed; Kouvelas, by then Minister of the Presidency, later claimed this was done in order to avoid impressions of clientelism in the outgoing government.{{sfn|Kouvelas|loc=26:50{{endash}}27:25}} A Greco-Italian consortium named Makedoniko Metro ({{langx|el|Μακεδονικό Μετρό}}){{NoteTag|The consortium was composed of:{{bulletlist|Mikhaniki AE (Greece) {{endash}} 63%|Edi-Stra-Edilizia Stradale SpA (Italy) {{endash}} 17%|AEG Westinghouse Transport System GmbH (Germany) {{endash}} 10%|Fidel SpA (Italy) {{endash}} 5%|Teknocenter-Centro Servizi Administrativi Srl (Italy) {{endash}} 5%}}}} was tentatively appointed in 1994.{{Cite news |last=Charalambidou |first=Vaso |date=4 October 1998 |access-date=5 December 2024 |title=Σύγκρουση στο Μετρό |trans-title=Collision course on the Metro |url=https://www.tovima.gr/2008/11/24/finance/sygkroysi-sto-metro-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241205122828/https://www.tovima.gr/2008/11/24/finance/sygkroysi-sto-metro-2/ |archive-date=5 December 2024 |work=To Vima}}. Digitally republished by To Vima on 24 November 2018. A runner-up consortium, headed by Bouygues, was also appointed at that time.{{Cite report |url=http://repository.costas-simitis.gr/sf-repository/pdf.js/web/viewer.html?file=/sf-repository/retrieve/25129/A1S4_OikEpi_F1T21.pdf |title=Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης |trans-title=Thessaloniki Metro |date=1993 |language=Greek |access-date=22 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241222002417/http://repository.costas-simitis.gr/sf-repository/pdf.js/web/viewer.html?file=/sf-repository/retrieve/25129/A1S4_OikEpi_F1T21.pdf |archive-date=22 December 2024 |via=Costas Simitis Foundation Archive |url-status=live}} Completion was set for 2006, in time for the city to host Expo 2008, but its bid was ultimately unsuccessful. The consortium changed composition numerous times;{{NoteTag|In the early stages, before the addition of AEG, the original composition had been:{{bulletlist|Mikhaniki AE (Greece) {{endash}} 70%|Edi-Stra-Edilizia Stradale SpA (Italy) {{endash}} 20%|Fidel SpA (Italy) {{endash}} 5%|Teknocenter-Centro Servizi Administrativi Srl (Italy) {{endash}} 5%}}}}{{NoteTag|On 29 March 1996 AEG pulled out, a new German company joined, and the three Italian companies formed a consortium, changing the composition to:{{bulletlist|Mikhaniki AE (Greece) {{endash}} 80%|ABB Daimler-Benz Transportation Deutschland GmbH (Germany) {{endash}} 19%|Fidel Group (Italy) {{endash}} 1%}}}} the three Italian companies went bankrupt,{{cite court |litigants=Makedoniko Metro and Michaniki v Commission |reporter=European Court Reports |court=Court of First Instance, Fourth Chamber |date=14 January 2004 |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/TXT/?uri=CELEX:62002TO0202 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241206225315/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/TXT/?uri=CELEX:62002TO0202 |archive-date=6 December 2024 |access-date=6 December 2024 |url-status=live}} and in the end it was composed of Greek, German, and Belgian stakeholders.{{Cite press release |title=Η γενική εισαγγελέας λαμβάνει θέση επί ερωτημάτων ελληνικού δικαστηρίου σχετικά με τη διαδικασία αναθέσεως της συμβάσεεων (sic) για την κατασκευή του μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης / Die Generalanwältin äussert sich zu Fragen eines griechischen Gerichts über das Vergabeverfahren zum Bau der Untergrundbahn von Thessaloniki |trans-title=The Advocate General responds to questions from a Greek court on the tender procedure for the construction of the Thessaloniki metro |date=11 July 2002 |location=Brussels |publisher=European Commission Spokesperson's Service |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/el/cje_02_64 |language=Greek, German |last1=Stix-Hackl |first1=Christine |access-date=5 December 2024 |url-status=live}}{{NoteTag|The final composition was:{{bulletlist|Mikhaniki AE (Greece) {{endash}} 80.65%|ABB Daimler-Benz Transportation Deutschland GmbH (Germany) {{endash}} 19.00%|Transurb Consult (Belgium) {{endash}} 0.35%}}}}

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| caption= 1997 funding model{{Cite report |url=http://repository.costas-simitis.gr/sf-repository/pdf.js/web/viewer.html?file=/sf-repository/retrieve/16705/A1S5_PASOKKenEpi_F1T12.pdf |title=Δελτίο Περιγραφής του Σταδίου Υλοποίησης του Έργου {{endash}} Τίτλος Έργου: Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης |trans-title=Description Report of the Project Implementation Stage {{endash}} Project Name: Thessaloniki Metro |date=1996 |language=Greek |pages=39{{endash}}40 |access-date=23 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241223024653/http://repository.costas-simitis.gr/sf-repository/pdf.js/web/viewer.html?file=/sf-repository/retrieve/16705/A1S5_PASOKKenEpi_F1T12.pdf |archive-date=23 December 2024 |via=Costas Simitis Foundation Archive |url-status=live |work=Description Reports of Major Projects |publisher=Ministry of the National Economy}}

| label1 = Public {{endash}} Greek state

| value1 = 19

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| label4 = Private {{endash}} bank loans

| value4 = 48

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}}

Internal reports indicate that the government believed the feasibility study carried out by Makedoniko Metro was unrealistic both in terms of buildability and financing,{{Cite report |url=http://repository.costas-simitis.gr/sf-repository/pdf.js/web/viewer.html?file=/sf-repository/retrieve/22216/A1S5_SymTexThe_F2T12.pdf |title=Σχόλια στην Εισηγητική Έκθεση του Σχεδίου Νόμου για το "Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης" |trans-title=Notes on the Introductory Report of the Draft Law for the "Thessaloniki Metro" |last=Makriniotis |first=Vasilis |date=2 February 1999 |language=Greek |quote=Η κυβέρνηση πρέπει να είναι ενήμερη του γεγονότος ότι η ποιότητα της Βασικής Τεχνικοοικονομικής Μελέτης, της Μελέτης Βιωσιμότητας καθώς και των αντιστοίχων Τευχών Δημοπράτησης του Έργου, υπολείπεται σημαντικά των αναγκών εντός τέτοια εμβέλοιας έργου. Στις κατ' ιδίαν συζητήσεις διαπίστωσα ότι αυτό είναι γνωστό σε όλους, μηδέ του κ. Λαλιώτη εξαιρουμένου. Εξαιτίας του γεγονότος αυτού το έργο δεν είναι ώριμο ούτε οικονομικά ούτε τεχνικά [...]|trans-quote=The government must be aware of the fact that the quality of the Basic Technical-Economic Study, the Feasibility Study and the corresponding Tender Documents of the Work, is considerably below the [standards] required for a work of this magnitude. In my private discussions I came to the realisation that this is known to everybody, including [Minister for Public Works] Mr. {{ill|Laliotis|el|Κώστας Λαλιώτης}}. For this reason the work is not mature either financially or technically [...]|access-date=22 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241222004729/http://repository.costas-simitis.gr/sf-repository/pdf.js/web/viewer.html?file=/sf-repository/retrieve/22216/A1S5_SymTexThe_F2T12.pdf |archive-date=22 December 2024 |via=Costas Simitis Foundation Archive |url-status=live}} and so in 1996 the Greek government annulled the appointment and called for the runner-up consortium, Bouygues-led Thessaloniki Metro ({{langx|el|Θεσσαλονίκη Μετρό}}),{{Cite report |url=http://repository.costas-simitis.gr/sf-repository/pdf.js/web/viewer.html?file=/sf-repository/retrieve/11070/A1S5_Apo_F7%ce%a419.pdf |title=Μητρώο έργων υποδομής Θεσσαλονίκης |trans-title=Registry of Thessaloniki infrastructure projects |date=July 2000 |publisher=Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace |location=Thessaloniki |pages=18{{endash}}20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129231450/http://repository.costas-simitis.gr/sf-repository/pdf.js/web/viewer.html?file=/sf-repository/retrieve/11070/A1S5_Apo_F7%CE%A419.pdf |archive-date=29 November 2021 |via=Costas Simitis Foundation Archive |url-status=live}}{{NoteTag|The consortium was composed of:{{Cite book |title=Εφημερίς της Κυβερνήσεως της Ελληνικής Δημοκρατίας |url=https://search.et.gr/el/fek/?fekId=197250 |series=A |issue=90 |date=30 April 1999 |trans-title=Government Gazette of the Hellenic Republic |format=PDF |location=Athens |publisher=National Printing House |language=Greek, English |access-date=22 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241222023348/https://search.et.gr/el/fek/?fekId=197250 |archive-date=22 December 2024 |url-status=live }}{{bulletlist|Bouygues (France)|Bombardier (Canada/Germany)|SNC-Lavalin (Canada)|SYSTRA-SOFRETU (France)|{{ill|Via-GTI|fr|Via-GTI}} (France)}}}}{{NoteTag|This instance of 'Thessaloniki Metro' is distinct from others in this article. The consortium's name in Greek (Θεσσαλονίκη Μετρό, Thessaloníki Metró) is grammatically unconventional, as it consists of two successive nouns in the nominative case. The name of Thessaloniki's metro system is Greek is Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης (Metró Thessaloníkis), with Thessaloniki in the genitive case to denote possession, more accurately rendered as 'Metro of Thessaloniki'. In the proceedings of the ECJ, the consortium and the metro system are rendered as 'Thessaloniki Metro' and 'Thessaloniki metro' respectively.}} to take on the project. The design was altered to a fully underground system, with {{convert|3|km|mi|abbr=on}} in deep tunnels and {{convert|6.33|km|mi|abbr=on}} using cut-and-cover, for a total system length of {{convert|9.33|km|mi|abbr=on}}, {{convert|1.56|km|mi|abbr=on}} longer than the previous design. The budget also nearly doubled to {{nowrap|₯220 billion}} ({{nowrap|${{Inflation|US|{{To USD|220|Greece|year=2000|r=3}}|2000|r=1}} billion}} today), of which {{nowrap|₯67 billion}} would be provided directly by the Greek state (jointly through the state budget and the European Regional Development Fund); the EU portion of the funds was conditional on the project being economically viable enough to also attract private funding.{{Cite journal |date=30 April 1998 |title=WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3181/97 by Mihail PAPAYANNAKIS to the Commission. The Thessaloniki 'metro' |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A91997E003181&qid=1735001084701 |url-status=live |journal=Official Journal of the European Union |location=Brussels |volume=C |issue=134 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241224005242/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A91997E003181&qid=1735001084701 |archive-date=24 December 2024 |access-date=24 December 2024 |quote=The 1994-99 Community support framework for Greece provides for the European Regional Development Fund to part-finance the Thessaloniki metro project only provided it can attract private capital (and is economically viable). |via=www.eur-lex.europa.eu}} A further ₯6 billion would be provided annually to subsidise the agreed ticket price of ₯200 (${{Inflation|US|{{To USD|200|Greece|year=2000|r=2}}|2000|r=2}} today).

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Negotiations were officially terminated on 29 November 1996; the government claimed that companies making up the Makedoniko Metro consortium would not take full responsibility for the construction and operation of the work, that the company had attempted to change the agreed ticket price (to include VAT), and that it would not accept liability for the ₯10 billion in preparatory works. Government memos indicate that the government viewed both its own past actions, as well as those of the Makedoniko Metro management, as "uncouth". Makedoniko Metro challenged the matter at the European Commission, and the project stalled.{{Cite news |url=https://www.kathimerini.gr/economy/local/135828/koryfonontai-oi-antidraseis-gia-tin-kathysterisi-kataskeyis-toy-metro-thessalonikis/ |title=Κορυφώνονται οι αντιδράσεις για την καθυστέρηση κατασκευής του μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης |trans-title=Reactions to the Thessaloniki Metro construction delays reaching their peak |last=Kalaitzoglou |first=Athina |work=Kathimerini |url-access=subscription |date=27 November 2002 |access-date=5 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241205123721/https://www.kathimerini.gr/economy/local/135828/koryfonontai-oi-antidraseis-gia-tin-kathysterisi-kataskeyis-toy-metro-thessalonikis/ |archive-date=5 December 2024}} It eventually sued the Commission for over a billion euros in damages. The European Ombudsman, Jacob Söderman, carried out a two-year investigation into the matter, the most complicated in his office's history, and sided with Makedoniko Metro on the issue of inadequate communication on the part of the Commission,{{Cite news |last=Shelley |first=John |date=7 February 2001 |title=Commission misled firm over Metro bid |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/commission-misled-firm-over-metro-bid/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525225340/https://www.politico.eu/article/commission-misled-firm-over-metro-bid/ |archive-date=25 May 2024 |access-date=6 December 2024 |work=Politico |language=en-GB}}{{Cite news |work=Europe Daily Bulletin |issue = 7898 |location=Strasbourg |date=7 February 2001 |title=Soederman notes that Commission violated rights of complainant in Thessaloniki Metro case |url=https://agenceurope.eu/en/bulletin/article/7898/29 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241206230302/https://agenceurope.eu/en/bulletin/article/7898/29 |archive-date=6 December 2024 |access-date=6 December 2024 |publisher=Agence Europe}} but otherwise rejected its legal arguments.

{{external media

| float = right

| headerimage = File:The European Court of Justice delivering its verdict on Makedoniko Metro v Elliniko Dimosio.png via the European Commission

| video1 = [https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-041643 Judgement of the Court of Justice of the European Communities in the case C-57/01 Makedoniko Metro v Elliniko Dimosio]

}}

The government of Costas Simitis campaigned for the construction of the metro as one of its national infrastructure priorities in the 2000 election.{{Cite report |url=http://repository.costas-simitis.gr/sf-repository/pdf.js/web/viewer.html?file=/sf-repository/retrieve/11212/A1S5_Apo_F10T1.pdf |title=Οι δεσμεύσεις μας για τη νέα τετραετία (2000{{endash}}2004) |trans-title=Our commitments for the new four-year period (2000{{endash}}2004) |date=2 March 2000 |publisher=Panhellenic Socialist Movement |language=Greek |access-date=23 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241223014023/http://repository.costas-simitis.gr/sf-repository/pdf.js/web/viewer.html?file=/sf-repository/retrieve/11212/A1S5_Apo_F10T1.pdf |archive-date=23 December 2024 |via=Costas Simitis Foundation Archive |url-status=live |quote=Προτεραιότητά μας είναι η ολοκλήρωση της Εγνατίας, του ΠΑΘΕ, της Αττικής και της Ιονίας Οδού, η γέφυρα Ρίου Αντιρρίου, το Διεθνές Αεροδρόμιο και το Μετρό της Θεσσαλονίκης |trans-quote=Our priority is the completion of the Egnatia, PATHE, Attiki, and Ionia motorways, the Rio–Antirrio Bridge, the International Airport, and the Thessaloniki Metro.}} With the contract commencement deadline approaching in 2002, Thessaloniki mayor Vasilis Papageorgopoulos, along with representatives from 130 city-based organisations, requested an emergency meeting with Prime Minister Simitis as well as the President of Greece, and threatened a mass rally to protest the potential cancellation of the project. A {{nowrap|9-month}} extension was granted in late 2002 to allow time for the courts to examine the claims of Makedoniko Metro; in January 2003 the European Court of Justice found that the termination of Makedoniko Metro's appointment had been compliant with EU law, while a second ruling a year later found that the Commission had acted lawfully. At the same time, Kouvelas complained at the double standards used for the construction of the Athens Metro, claiming that Thessalonians had spent more of their taxes to subsidise the metro in Athens than it would have cost to build a metro in Thessaloniki.{{Cite news |url=https://www.enet.gr/2000/02/02/on-line/keimena/greece/greece2.htm |title=Ελλάδα |trans-title=Greece |last=Apostolakis |first=Sakis |work=Eleftherotypia |via=E Online |date=2 February 2002 |access-date=5 December 2024 |language=Greek |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070503050455/http://archive.enet.gr/2000/02/02/on-line/keimena/greece/greece2.htm |archive-date=3 May 2007 |quote=Τονίζει ακόμη ότι το Μετρό της Αθήνας θα στοιχίζει τελικά 2 τρισ. δραχμές, που προέρχονται εξ ολοκλήρου από τις δημόσιες επενδύσεις και για το οποίο όλοι οι Ελληνες φορολογούμενοι καταβάλλουν το μερίδιό τους. «Οι Θεσσαλονικείς, που αποτελούν το 10% του ελληνικού πληθυσμού, θα πληρώσουν για το Μετρό της Αθήνας 2 τρισ., ποσόν που θα αρκούσε για να γίνει το δικό τους Μετρό, που ακόμη δεν άρχισε». |trans-quote=He notes further that the Athens Metro will cost 2 trillion drachmas in the end, funds which derive exclusively through public investment and for which Greek taxpayers all pay their share. "Thessalonians, who represent 10% of the Greek population, will pay 2 trillion for the Athens Metro, which would have sufficed to build their own Metro, [whose construction] has not yet began.}} The negative "everything is done in Athens, for Athens" perception resulting from the lack of progress on the metro was acknowledged by internal government briefings.{{Cite report |url=http://repository.costas-simitis.gr/sf-repository/pdf.js/web/viewer.html?file=/sf-repository/retrieve/4902/A1S5_SynThe_F1T18.pdf |title=Πιθανές "κακόπιστες" ερωτήσεις ή "υπαινικτικοί" σχολιασμοί |trans-title=Possible "bad faith" questions or "suggestive" comments |date=2003 |language=Greek |access-date=23 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241223020835/http://repository.costas-simitis.gr/sf-repository/pdf.js/web/viewer.html?file=/sf-repository/retrieve/4902/A1S5_SynThe_F1T18.pdf |archive-date=23 December 2024 |via=Costas Simitis Foundation Archive |url-status=live |quote=1. Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης. Καθυστέρηση {{endash}} Αμφιβολία υλοποίησης {{endash}} Όλα γίνονται στην Αθήνα και για την Αθήνα |trans-quote=1. Thessaloniki Metro. Delays {{endash}} Doubts about [its] completion {{endash}} Everything is done in Athens and for Athens}} The contract was terminated in 2002 due to a lack of funds associated with the tunnels being deeper than originally planned.

With the failure of the concession model, in September 2003 the Ministry of the Environment, Urban Planning and Public Works under Vasso Papandreou decided to tender the metro as a public work,{{cite web |publisher=Attiko Metro |url=http://www.ametro.gr/page/default.asp?la=1&id=8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216014829/http://www.ametro.gr/page/default.asp?la=1&id=8 |archive-date=16 December 2007 |title=Ιστορικό |trans-title=History |language=Greek |website=www.ametro.gr |access-date=8 December 2024 |url-status=dead}} co-financed by the Greek government, the European Union's Regional Development Fund, and loans from the European Investment Bank (whose vice-president at the time, Plutarchos Sakellaris, was a Thessaloniki native).{{Cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/bei_09_143 |title=EIB promotes quality of life in Thessaloniki with EUR 650 million for the city metro |website=www.ec.europa.eu |publisher=European Commission |language=en |access-date=8 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106171912/https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/BEI_09_143 |archive-date=6 November 2021 |url-status=live |quote=As a native of Thessaloniki, I feel happy and proud to sign this loan today. [...]}} Attiko Metro, the state-owned company which oversaw the construction of the Athens Metro, had its articles of association amended to enable it to oversee construction of the Thessaloniki Metro as well.{{Citation |title=Εφημερίς της Κυβερνήσεως της Ελληνικής Δημοκρατίας |url=https://search.et.gr/el/fek/?fekId=265193 |series=A |issue=284 |date=11 December 2003 |trans-title=Government Gazette of the Hellenic Republic |format=PDF |location=Athens |publisher=National Printing House |language=Greek |access-date=27 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241227163832/https://search.et.gr/el/fek/?fekId=265193 |page=16 |archive-date=27 December 2024 |url-status=live }} A {{nowrap|Greco-Italian}} consortium{{NoteTag|The consortium was composed of:{{cite web |publisher=Railway Technology |website=www.railway-technology.com |url=https://www.railway-technology.com/projects/greece/?cf-view |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208155312/https://www.railway-technology.com/projects/greece/ |archive-date=8 December 2024 |title=Thessaloniki Automated Rapid Transit Light Railway, Greece |access-date=8 December 2024 |url-status=live}}{{bulletlist|AEGEK (Greece)|Impreglio (Italy)|Ansaldo S.T.S. (Italy)|Seli (Italy)|Ansaldo Breda (Italy)}}}} was appointed on 7 April 2006 and construction began in June of the same year. The budget was set to {{nowrap|€1.05 billion}} ({{nowrap|€{{inflation|EU|1.05|2003|r=2}} billion}} or {{nowrap|${{To USD|1.6|EUR|year=2023}} billion}} today).

In 2018, Elliniko Metro S.A. was overseeing the construction of a two-line, twin-tunnel system composed of Line 1 (the base project) and Line 2 (the Kalamaria Extension). Although Line 1 has been delayed by extensive archaeological works, Line 2's construction is proceeding on schedule. Construction of tunnels for both lines was finished in 2018, and track-laying began in August of that year.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ypodomes.com/index.php/statheri-troxia/metro/thessalonikis/item/47781-g-mylopoulos-oloi-oi-stathmoi-tou-metro-thessalonikis-exooun-oloklirothei-kataskevastika |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911044741/https://www.ypodomes.com/index.php/statheri-troxia/metro/thessalonikis/item/47781-g-mylopoulos-oloi-oi-stathmoi-tou-metro-thessalonikis-exooun-oloklirothei-kataskevastika |archive-date=11 September 2018 |title=Γ. Μυλόπουλος: Όλοι οι σταθμοί του Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης έχουν ολοκληρωθεί κατασκευαστικά |language=el |trans-title=G. Mylopoulos: construction on all Thessaloniki Metro stations has finished |access-date=10 September 2018}} Line 1 and Line 2 were expected to be operational by December 2023.{{Cite web |date=3 December 2019 |title=Τον Δεκέμβριο του 2023 έτοιμο το Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης |url=https://ypodomes.com/thessaloniki-metro-kalamaria-extension-is-coming-up-next-with-new-extensions-to-the-west-in-the-pipeline/ |access-date=2019-12-30 |website=Kathimerini}} Both lines are designed to serve a minimum of 18,000 passengers per hour in each direction, with a 90-second headway.{{Citation |title=Technical Description |url=http://www.ametro.gr/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/AM_01.12.2014_RFP256_TechnicalData_Thess_EN.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911045037/http://www.ametro.gr/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/AM_01.12.2014_RFP256_TechnicalData_Thess_EN.pdf |archive-date=11 September 2018 |publisher=Attiko Metro S.A. |date=1 December 2014}}{{Citation |title=Technical Description |url=http://www.ametro.gr/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/AM_19.06.2018_Technical_description_RFP_335_18.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911044949/http://www.ametro.gr/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/AM_19.06.2018_Technical_description_RFP_335_18.pdf |archive-date=11 September 2018 |publisher=Attiko Metro S.A. |date=18 June 2018}} The completed metro will reduce Thessaloniki's greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 5,000 tons a year, and reduce travel time by up to 66 percent.{{Cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/projects/greece/new-metro-improves-quality-of-life-in-thessaloniki |title=New metro improves quality of life in Thessaloniki |website=www.ec.europa.eu |publisher=European Commission |language=en |access-date=22 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922001943/http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/projects/greece/new-metro-improves-quality-of-life-in-thessaloniki |archive-date=22 September 2018}}

Image:Thessaloniki Metro Topographic Map.svg|900px|center|alt=Click on station names or symbols to visit the relevant page

rect 122 404 306 436 New Railway Station metro station

rect 124 365 203 393 Dimokratias metro station

rect 209 306 272 332 Venizelou metro station

rect 259 271 326 302 Agias Sofias metro station

rect 342 206 456 246 Sintrivani metro station

rect 372 116 456 149 Panepistimio metro station (Thessaloniki)

rect 525 134 582 165 Papafi metro station

rect 571 189 629 225 Efkleidis metro station

rect 608 231 671 266 Fleming metro station

rect 698 258 768 287 Analipsi metro station

rect 670 318 750 350 25 Martiou metro station

rect 813 282 876 312 Voulgari metro station

rect 784 225 860 255 Nea Elvetia metro station

rect 1007 313 1134 341 Pylaia depot

rect 807 363 868 393 Nomarchia metro station

rect 884 461 955 490 Kalamaria metro station

rect 1022 433 1077 464 Aretsou metro station

rect 1123 396 1189 425 Nea Krini metro station

rect 1282 389 1324 422 Mikra metro station

rect 1248 389 1278 421 w:Line 2 (Thessaloniki Metro)

rect 92 405 123 437 Line 2 (Thessaloniki Metro)

rect 59 406 92 438 Line 1 (Thessaloniki Metro)

rect 304 410 338 434 Hellenic Railways Organisation

rect 863 226 892 255 Line 1 (Thessaloniki Metro)

rect 336 408 382 435 Thessaloniki Suburban Railway

{{see also|Line 1 (Thessaloniki Metro)}}

File:Thessaloniki Metro Line 1 Topographic Map.svg

What is known as the Base Project ({{langx|el|Βασικό Έργο}}) began in 2003, when Attiko Metro and the Greek government agreed to cooperate on a public works project{{cite web |author=Attiko Metro S.A. |url=http://www.ametro.gr/?page_id=152 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813044505/http://www.ametro.gr/?page_id=152 |archive-date=13 August 2018 |title=Ιστορικό |trans-title=History |language=el |website=www.ametro.gr |access-date=17 August 2018}} Government support was instrumental, since lack of government support for the 1988 proposal was the primary reason it had failed. The project issued a request for tender in 2004{{endash}}2005, and the successful Greco-Italian consortium (which included AnsaldoBreda) began construction in late June 2006. An alternate consortium, Macedonian Metro ({{langx|el|Μακεδονικό Μετρό}}), was barred by the European Court of Justice from participating in the tender because it changed its composition after the tender proceedings began (violating EU law).{{Cite web |url=http://www.tanea.gr/2003/01/24/greece/freno-sti-makedoniko-metro-apo-tin-e-e/ |title="Φρένο" στη Μακεδονικό Μετρό από την Ε.Ε. |date=24 January 2003 |website=www.tanea.gr |publisher=Ta Nea |language=el |trans-title=The EU has put "the brakes" on Makedoniko Metro |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923162226/http://www.tanea.gr/2003/01/24/greece/freno-sti-makedoniko-metro-apo-tin-e-e/ |archive-date=23 September 2018 |access-date=23 September 2018}}

The project was budgeted at €1.05 billion (${{To USD|1.05|EUR|year=2017}} billion), with 25 percent funding from the Greek government and 75 percent funded by loans from the European Investment Bank and the European Regional Development Fund.{{cite web |author=Attiko Metro S.A. |url=http://www.ametro.gr/?page_id=4216&lang=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811232123/http://www.ametro.gr/?page_id=4216&lang=en |archive-date=11 August 2018 |title=Funding |website=www.ametro.gr |access-date=5 June 2018}} The latest available Attiko Metro financial data put the official estimated cost at €1.28 billion (${{To USD|1.28|EUR|year=2017}} billion).{{Cite web |url=https://www.ametro.gr/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/AM_Xrimatooikonomikes_katastaseis_2017.pdf |title=Χρηματοοικονομικές Καταστάσεις για τη χρήση που έληξε την 31 Δεκεμβρίου 2017 |date=31 December 2017 |website=www.ametro.gr |publisher=Attiko Metro |page=9 |language=el |trans-title=Annual Financial Statements for the Year Ending on 31 December 2017}} An April 2019 update raised the estimated cost to €1.62 billion (${{To USD|1.62|EUR|year=2017}} billion).{{Cite web |url=https://www.ametro.gr/?page_id=172 |title=Χρηματοδότηση – ΑΤΤΙΚΟ ΜΕΤΡΟ Α.Ε. |date=2019-08-03 |website=www.ametro.gr |publisher=Attiko Metro |language=el |trans-title=Funding – Attiko Metro |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803023942/https://www.ametro.gr/?page_id=172 |archive-date=2019-08-03 |access-date=2019-08-17}} Line 1 runs within the municipality of Thessaloniki, the core of the Thessaloniki urban area, calling at 13 stations.

It has two parallel single-track tunnels on a {{convert|9.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} route between {{metro|New Railway Station}} (for the city's main railway station) and {{metro|Nea Elvetia}}, with Pylaia depot further southeast. Although construction began in 2006, major archaeological finds in the city centre delayed the project considerably. Disputes between Attiko Metro, the city council and archaeologists reached Greece's Council of State, the country's highest administrative court, in 2015. The original schedule had Line 1 operational by 2012. Attiko Metro redesigned several stations in a solution which became known as "antiquities and metro" ({{langx|el|και αρχαία και μετρό}}).{{Cite web |url=https://yougoculture.com/news/first-metro-network-ancient-monuments |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911225231/https://yougoculture.com/news/first-metro-network-ancient-monuments |archive-date=11 September 2018 |title=The first Metro network with ancient monuments |date=16 March 2018 |website=www.yougoculture.com |publisher=National and Kapodistrian University of Athens |language=en |access-date=11 September 2018}} Today, many antiquities discovered due to the construction of the line are on display at permanent in-station exhibitions, while the major discoveries can be found at station {{metro|Venizelou}}. These make up the world's first publicly-accessible open-air archaeological site contained in situ within a metro station.

Construction of the tunnels was completed on 31 July 2018, 12 years and one month after breaking ground.{{cite web |author=Attiko Metro S.A. |url=http://www.ametro.gr/?p=10918&lang=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830074049/http://www.ametro.gr/?p=10918&lang=en |archive-date=30 August 2018 |title=THESSALONIKI METRO: The Metromole activities have come to an end |website=www.ametro.gr |access-date=30 August 2018}} That day, the architectural work on Line 1 was reported as 80 percent finished. In August 2018 installation of the tracks and electronic signalling equipment began. It was expected that the line would enter service in its entirety, between {{metro|New Railway Station}} and {{metro|Nea Elvetia}} in 2020 but will not stop at {{metro|Agias Sofias}} and {{metro|Venizelou}}, which were planned to open at a later date.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ametro.gr/?p=14195&lang=en|title=THESSALONIKI METRO: "The Metro in our City" – ΑΤΤΙΚΟ ΜΕΤΡΟ Α.Ε.|date=12 November 2018|website=www.ametro.gr|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123144822/https://www.ametro.gr/?p=14195&lang=en|archive-date=23 November 2018|access-date=23 November 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ypodomes.com/index.php/statheri-troxia/metro/thessalonikis/item/49780-metro-thessalonikis-anatropi-me-leitourgia-apo-to-telos-tou-2020-apo-to-neo-sidirodromiko-stathmo-mexri-nea-elvetia|title=Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης: Ανατροπή με λειτουργία το 2020 σε όλη τη γραμμή από το Νέο Σιδηροδρομικό Σταθμό μέχρι Νέα Ελβετία - ypodomes.com|last=Karagiannis|first=Nikos|date=8 November 2018|website=www.ypodomes.gr|language=el-gr|trans-title=Thessaloniki Metro: Operational in 2020 on the entire line from the New Railway Station to Nea Elvetia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123145310/https://www.ypodomes.com/index.php/statheri-troxia/metro/thessalonikis/item/49780-metro-thessalonikis-anatropi-me-leitourgia-apo-to-telos-tou-2020-apo-to-neo-sidirodromiko-stathmo-mexri-nea-elvetia|archive-date=23 November 2018|access-date=23 November 2018}} By February 2019 construction on the main line was 95 percent completed and platform screen doors were beginning to be installed, while the Supreme Council for Civil Personnel Selection was planning a competition to fill the first 28 Thessaloniki Metro employee positions.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ypodomes.com/index.php/statheri-troxia/metro/thessalonikis/item/51366-eksoplismenes-me-thyres-asfaleias-oi-apovathres-ton-stathmon-tou-metro-thessalonikis |title=Εξοπλισμένες με θύρες ασφαλείας οι αποβάθρες των σταθμών του Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης |date=12 February 2019 |website=www.ypodomes.com |language=el-gr |trans-title=The Thessaloniki Metro platforms are equipped with safety doors |access-date=18 March 2019}}

File:Excavations at Aghia Sofia station, Thessaloniki.png

Despite the progress, in September 2019 Greece's new conservative cabinet announced a further 28-month delay to the project, pushing the opening date from November 2020 to April 2023 and citing costly archaeological works at {{metro|Venizelou}} as the reason.{{Cite web |url=https://www.voria.gr/article/karamanlis-teli-tou-2022-me-arches-2023-etimo-to-metro-thessalonikis |title=Καραμανλής: Τέλος του 2022 με αρχές 2023 έτοιμο το μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης |date=5 September 2019 |website=Καραμανλής: Τέλος του 2022 με αρχές 2023 έτοιμο το μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης |publisher=voria.gr |language=el |trans-title=Karamanlis: The Thessaloniki Metro will be ready between the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023 |access-date=13 September 2019}} The new Minister of Infrastructure and Transport announced that the government had decided to scrap the previous plan to keep the archaeological discoveries in situ within the station at Venizelou, choosing instead to disassemble them and re-assemble them at a later stage, noting that excavation costs had exceeded €130 million (${{toUSD|130|EUR|year=2017}} million), more than the cost of the new Acropolis Museum.{{Cite web |url=https://www.euro2day.gr/news/economy/article/1697332/karamanlhs-arhes-toy-2023-tha-einai-etoimo-to-metr.html |title=Καραμανλής: Αρχές του 2023 θα είναι έτοιμο το μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης |last=Kokkaliari |first=Katerina |date=10 September 2019 |website=www.euro2day.gr |language=el |trans-title=Karamanlis: The Thessaloniki Metro will be ready between the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023 |access-date=13 September 2019}} Thessaloniki's new conservative mayor, Konstantinos Zervas, as well as Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, supported this move. Mitsotakis also announced at the Thessaloniki International Fair that a new archaeological museum would be built specifically to house archaeological artefacts unearthed during the construction of the metro. The new head of Attiko Metro (now Elliniko Metro) accused archaeologists of "looking to the past; we need to look forward".{{Cite web |url=https://www.dikaiologitika.gr/eidhseis/politikes-eidhseis/269253/karamanlis-stis-arxes-tou-2023-tha-einai-etoimo-to-metro-thessalonikis |title=Καραμανλής: Στις αρχές του 2023 θα είναι έτοιμο το Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης - Σύγκρουση για τα αρχαία στη Βουλή |last=Karavokyri |first=Anna |date=10 September 2019 |website=www.dikaiologitika.gr |language=el-GR |trans-title=Karamanlis: The Thessaloniki Metro will be ready between the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023 |access-date=13 September 2019}} There were two more delays, one from April 2023 to December 2023, and one from December 2023 to March 2024.

The decision to disassemble the archaeological finds, dubbed a "Byzantine Pompeii", was strongly criticised, and a citizens' group has taken the government to court over the issue for a second time, supported by former mayor Yiannis Boutaris among others.{{Cite web |url=https://ypodomes.com/sta-dikastiria-xana-gia-ta-archaia-toy-stathmoy-venizeloy/ |title=Στα δικαστήρια (ξανά) για τα αρχαία του σταθμού ΒΕΝΙΖΕΛΟΥ |last=Karagiannis |first=Nikos |date=11 September 2019 |website=www.ypodomes.gr |language=el |trans-title=To court (again) over the antiquities at Venizelou |access-date=13 September 2019}} Part of the objection has to do with the fact that the government has not carried out any studies as to how it will return and re-assemble the artefacts once the station has been built; this course of action was adopted for the construction of Agias Sofias metro station, where the archaeological discoveries were more significant than those at Venizelou, but the re-assembly of the artefacts on site is now impossible because Elliniko metro never constructed any space dedicated to the re-assembly of the artefacts it disassembled, despite having promised to do so.{{Cite web |url=https://www.kathimerini.gr/1042245/gallery/epikairothta/ellada/metro-8essalonikhs-o-grifos-toy-sta8moy-venizeloy |title=Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης: Ο γρίφος του σταθμού Βενιζέλου |last=Ioannidis |first=Sakis |date=12 September 2019 |access-date=14 September 2019 |publisher=Kathimerini |language=el |trans-title=Thessaloniki Metro: The puzzle of Venizelou station |website=www.kathimerini.gr}} In April 2020, the International Association of Byzantine Studies (AIEB) wrote to Prime Minister Mitsotakis to protest the removal of the antiquities from their original location, saying that the discoveries constituted "a cultural and scientific jewel" and that "it would be a tragedy to jeopardise [Greece's reputation for monument preservation] by squandering the treasure of the Thessaloniki material and data through an unnecessarily hasty construction project", arguing that the previous decision to leave the discoveries in-situ was preferable.{{Cite web |url=https://parallaximag.gr/epikairotita/gia-proti-fora-oi-vyzantinologoi-tis-yfiliou-pairnoun-thesi-yper-tis-diasosis-ton-archaion-tis-venizelou |title=Για πρώτη φορά οι βυζαντινολόγοι της υφηλίου παίρνουν θέση υπέρ της διάσωσης των αρχαίων της Βενιζέλου |date=22 April 2020 |website=www.parallaximag.gr |language=el, en |trans-title=For the first time the Byzantinologists of the world take a stand in favour of the rescue of the antiquities at Venizelou |access-date=22 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422182025/https://parallaximag.gr/epikairotita/gia-proti-fora-oi-vyzantinologoi-tis-yfiliou-pairnoun-thesi-yper-tis-diasosis-ton-archaion-tis-venizelou |archive-date=22 April 2020}}

In a customer satisfaction survey carried out by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in the months prior to the inauguration of the metro, the only such survey to be published in a peer reviewed journal, 85% of respondents viewed the construction of the metro positively, but also showed overwhelming support for the notions that poor planning and inefficient management of funds were a cause of the years-long construction delays.{{Cite journal |last1=Zoumpoulis |first1=Dimitrios |last2=Demertzidis |first2=Ypatios |last3=Palantzas |first3=Georgios |last4=Nalmpantis |first4=Dimitrios |date=2024 |title=Thessaloniki Metro: Public satisfaction in relation to the progress of the construction works |url=https://www.e3s-conferences.org/articles/e3sconf/abs/2024/115/e3sconf_iced2024_12005/e3sconf_iced2024_12005.html |journal=E3S Web of Conferences |language=en |volume=585 |pages=12005 |doi=10.1051/e3sconf/202458512005 |bibcode=2024E3SWC.58512005Z |issn=2267-1242|doi-access=free }} It also found low levels of satisfaction with the progress of the works, with only 2.8% saying they were fully or quite satisfied with progress, and 42% being moderately satisfied; overall dissatisfaction was at 68%. A different study found that, even though there was widespread dissatisfaction with the construction works and associated years-long traffic arrangements, as well as the closure of businesses that resulted from these, there was also a high degree of understanding of and support for the city's transit-oriented development model.{{Cite journal |last1=Papagiannakis |first1=Apostolos |last2=Yiannakou |first2=Athena |date=January 2022 |title=Do Citizens Understand the Benefits of Transit-Oriented Development? Exploring and Modeling Community Perceptions of a Metro Line under Construction in Thessaloniki, Greece |journal=Sustainability |language=en |volume=14 |issue=12 |pages=7043 |doi=10.3390/su14127043 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2022Sust...14.7043P |issn=2071-1050}}

file:Thessaloniki Metro opening.png Kyriakos Mitsotakis inaugurates the metro system in the presence of President Katerina Sakellaropoulou.]]

A final opening date for Line 1 was set for noon on 30 November 2024.{{Cite web |title=Καραγιάννης: Η Θεσσαλονίκη θα έχει μετρό στα τέλη του 2023 |url=https://www.kathimerini.gr/politics/562027237/karagiannis-i-thessaloniki-tha-echei-metro-sta-teli-toy-2023/ |access-date=2022-10-10 |website=www.kathimerini.gr|date=4 September 2022 }}{{cite news |title=After 18 Years Construction, Thessaloniki's Metro Will Open in 2024 |url=https://www.thenationalherald.com/after-18-years-construction-thessalonikis-metro-will-open-in-2024/ |access-date=9 November 2023 |agency=The National Herald |date=October 5, 2023}}{{Cite web |date=2024-08-27 |title=PM pledges Thessaloniki metro delivery on November 30 |url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/politics/1247085/pm-pledges-thessaloniki-metro-delivery-on-november-30/ |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=Kathimerini |language=English}}{{Cite web |url=https://ypodomes.com/metro-thessalonikis-to-apogeyma-tis-30is-noemvrioy-anoigoyn-tis-pyles-toys-oi-13-stathmoi-sta-3-dis-eyro-to-kostos/ |title=Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης: το απόγευμα της 30ης Νοεμβρίου ανοίγουν τις πύλες τους οι 13 σταθμοί – Στα 3 δισ. ευρώ το κόστος |date=22 April 2020 |website=www.ypodomes.com |language=Greek |trans-title=Thessaloniki Metro: the 13 stations open their gates at noon on 30 November – cost at 3 billion euro |access-date=20 November 2024}} In preparation for this, a brand identity was unveiled on 13 November 2024,{{Cite web |date=2024-11-14 |title=Thessaloniki Metro Unveils New Logo |url=https://www.tovima.com/society/thessaloniki-metro-unveils-new-logo/ |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=www.tovima.com |language=English}} while the final project cost of €3 billion (${{To USD|3|EUR|year=2023}} billion), including €600 million (${{To USD|600|EUR|year=2023|round=yes}} million) in future interest payments, was revealed on 20 November 2024. The line was finally opened on 30 November in a ceremony officiated by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, with no fares to be collected until 4 December,{{Cite web |date=30 November 2024 |title=Greece's second largest city gets new metro - and it took 38 years to build |url=https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/11/30/greeces-second-largest-city-gets-new-metro-and-it-took-38-years-to-build |access-date=30 November 2024 |website=Euronews}} although the cultural and commercial celebrations organised by the Thessaloniki Chamber of Handicrafts were postponed to 4 December due to Storm Bora.{{Cite web |last=Manthiopoulou |first=Maria |date=28 November 2024 |title=Πώς η Θεσσαλονίκη ετοιμάζεται να υποδεχθεί -υπό βροχή;- το μετρό |trans-title=How Thessaloniki plans to welcome -under rain?- the metro |url=https://www.voria.gr/article/stoys-rythmoys-toy-metro-thessalonikis-kai-ypo-brohis-i-zoi-stin-poli-sabbatokyriako |website=www.voria.gr |language=Greek}} The heavy rainfall also caused minor problems on the line, with water leakage in 3 stations and the elevators in 7 stations being out of use.{{Cite web |title=Η κακοκαιρία bora χτύπησε και το μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης |trans-title=Storm Bora hit Thessaloniki Metro too |url=https://www.makthes.gr/premiera-me-koyvades-gia-to-metro-thessalonikis-ta-nera-tis-vrochis-mpikan-se-stathmoys-vinteo-733775 |access-date=3 December 2024 |website=www.makthes.gr |publisher=Makedonia |language=Greek |publication-date=30 November 2024}}{{Cite web |date=3 December 2024 |title=Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης: Εκτός λειτουργίας οι ανελκυστήρες |trans-title=Thessaloniki Metro: Elevators are out of order |url=https://www.tovima.gr/2024/12/03/society/metro-thessalonikis-ektos-leitourgias-oi-anelkystires/ |website=www.tovima.gr |publisher=To Vima}} Nevertheless, use of the metro in the first few days of fare-free operation was high, with employees needing to deploy crowd control measures to prevent platform overcrowding.{{Cite web |date=2 December 2024 |title=Με ελεγχόμενη είσοδο το Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης – Παραμένουν ασφυκτικά γεμάτοι οι συρμοί |trans-title=Controlled entry at Thessaloniki Metro – Trains remain suffocatingly crowded |url=https://parallaximag.gr/thessaloniki-news/me-elegchomeni-eisodo-to-metro-thessalonikis-paramenoyn-asfyktika-gematoi-oi-syrmoi |website=www.parallaximag.gr |publisher=Parallaxi Magazine |language=Greek}} The first month of operation resulted in a monthly ridership of one million, a 15% decrease in road traffic, and a simultaneous 30% increase in market traffic for businesses in the city centre.{{Cite news |date=30 December 2024 |title=Ένας μήνας μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης: Πώς επηρεάστηκε η κίνηση στους δρόμους και στην αγορά – Τα πρώτα στοιχεία |trans-title=One month of Thessaloniki Metro: How it affected road and market traffic {{endash}} the first data |url=https://www.naftemporiki.gr/society/1869078/enas-minas-metro-thessalonikis-pos-epireastike-i-kinisi-stoys-dromoys-kai-stin-agora-ta-prota-stoicheia/ |url-status=live |work=Naftemporiki |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241231011740/https://www.naftemporiki.gr/society/1869078/enas-minas-metro-thessalonikis-pos-epireastike-i-kinisi-stoys-dromoys-kai-stin-agora-ta-prota-stoicheia/ |archive-date=31 December 2024}}

{{see also|Line 2 (Thessaloniki Metro)}}

Line 2 of the Thessaloniki metro, also known as Kalamaria Extension ({{langx|el|Επέκταση Καλαμαριάς}}) extends the metro system to Kalamaria, the second-largest municipality in the Thessaloniki urban area and the 18th-most-populous in Greece. Similar in construction to Line 1, it has two parallel single-track tunnels on a {{convert|4.78|km|mi|abbr=on}} route between {{metro|25 Martiou}} and {{metro|Mikra}} and adds five stations to the network. Construction on the project began in 2013, with a budget of €518 million (${{To USD|518|EUR|year=2017}} million). By 31 July 2018, the extension was 60 percent completed. Although construction began seven years after Line 1, it is expected to fully enter service just a year after Line 1, on 30 November 2025.{{Cite web |last=Newsroom |date=2024-12-03 |title=Thessaloniki Metro: which new extensions are coming up next |url=https://ypodomes.com/thessaloniki-metro-kalamaria-extension-is-coming-up-next-with-new-extensions-to-the-west-in-the-pipeline/ |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=Ypodomes.com |language=el}} This is due to the lack of major archaeological works, enabling the project to proceed without delays. The latest Elliniko Metro financial statement puts the extension's cost at €568 million (${{To USD|568|EUR|year=2017|round=yes}} million). An April 2019 update raised the estimated cost to €640 million (${{To USD|640|EUR|year=2017}} million). The line is made up of 16 stations, 11 of which are also stations served by Line 1.

After confusion about the extension's place in the system, Elliniko Metro clarified in August 2018 that it would be a separate line running between {{metro|New Railway Station}} and {{metro|Mikra}} without the need to change trains at {{metro|25 Martiou}}.{{cite web |title=Η Συνέντευξη τoυ Γιάννη Μυλόπουλου για το Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης |trans-title=Giannis Mylopoulos' interview about the Thessaloniki Metro |url=https://www.ypodomes.com/index.php/statheri-troxia/metro/thessalonikis/item/38724-simera-stis-11-30-live-synentefksi-sto-facebook-o-giannis-mylopoulos-gia-to-metro-thessalonikis |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812213150/https://www.ypodomes.com/index.php/statheri-troxia/metro/thessalonikis/item/38724-simera-stis-11-30-live-synentefksi-sto-facebook-o-giannis-mylopoulos-gia-to-metro-thessalonikis |archive-date=12 August 2018 |access-date=12 August 2018 |website=www.ypodomes.gr}} The extension of Line 2 to Makedonia Airport went to tender in March 2019 with an initial budget of €254,150 (${{to USD|254.15|EUR|year=2017|round=yes}},000) for topographical works in order to enable more detailed planning of the line.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ametro.gr/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/AM_19.03.2019_RFP_354_19_Perilipsi.pdf |title=Τοπογραφικές μελέτες για την επέκταση του Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης προς Αεροδρόμιο "Μακεδονία" |date=18 March 2019 |publisher=Attiko Metro |language=el |trans-title=Topographical studies for the extension of the Thessaloniki Metro to the "Makedonia" Airport|access-date=21 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321000434/https://www.ametro.gr/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/AM_19.03.2019_RFP_354_19_Perilipsi.pdf |archive-date=21 March 2019}}

{{Section rewrite|date=December 2024}}

{{Thessaloniki Metro Development Plan}}

The extension to the northwestern districts initially included a circular line and was in a preliminary phase[https://ypodomes.com/tachiaos-epektaseis-sti-thesaloniki-eos-to-2035/ Tachiaos: We will have projects for the Thessaloniki metro until 2035][https://www.ametro.gr/?page_id=167 PHASE 1 OF THESSALONIKI METRO EXTENSIONS, EXTENSION TO EVOSMOS & STAVROUPOLI, ametro.gr]{{Cite web |url=https://www.economistas.gr/oikonomia/8210_erga-disekatommyrion-proothoyntai-sto-metro |title=Projects worth billions are promoted in the metro |accessdate=2019-02-19 |archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20190515125602/https://www.economistas.gr/oikonomia/8210_erga-disekatommyrion-proothoyntai-sto-metro |archivedate=2019-05-15 |url-status=dead }} until the fall of 2023 when the management of Elliniko Metro S.A. decided not to proceed with the project, considering it both structurally unfeasible and wrong in design. The project now includes a northwest extension of Line 1 that will start from {{metro|Dimokratias}}, will cross Stavroupoli and Evosmos, will reach the hospitals at the northwestern entrance of the city, and will end at a second depot of Line 1 situated at the ring road of Thessaloniki. The relevant decisions were announced by Hellenic Metro S.A. on May 20, 2024. The funding process will begin in 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://www.athenstransport.com/2024/05/epektaseis-metro-thessalonikis/|title=The design for the extensions of Thessaloniki Metro until 2040|date=2024-05-20|website=Athens Transport|language=el|accessdate=2024-05-20}}{{Cite web|url=https://ypodomes.com/metro-thessalonikis-2-nees-grammes-sta-schedia-eos-to-2040-proteraiotita-i-voreiodytiki-thessaloniki/|title=Metro Thessaloniki: 2 new lines in the plans until 2040 |date=2024-05-20|website=Ypodomes.com|language=en|accessdate=2024-05-20}}

The contractor's audit procedures will follow, along with the approval by the Court of Audit and the signing of the contract with the contractor. The northwestern extension will be a priority among all future extensions of the Thessaloniki Metro and will include the following stations:

• {{metro|Dimokratias}} (existing station)
• Neapoli (Roumanikon Park, Neapoli)
• Terpsithea
• Stavroupoli (Lagada and Lykourgou, Thessaloniki Psychiatric Hospital)
• Polichni (former name Agia Varvara, Davaki Street, S.O.A., Paul Mela Camp[http://parallaximag.gr/thessaloniki/aftoi-einai-oi-proteinomenoi-neoi-stathmoi- metro-tis-dytikis-thessalonikis These are the proposed new metro stations of western Thessaloniki] or with alternative positioning of Lagadas and DavakisThis position will be met with the Lagadas station of the suburban train.)
• Efkarpia
• Papageorgiou Hospital

The tender for the northwestern extension is expected to be completed by 2027.[https://www.makthes.gr/imerida-mtk-kai-makthes-nikos-tachiaos-i-makedonia-den-kindyneyei-apo-plimmyres-typoy-ntaniel-687265 Δημοπράτηση της επέκτασης του Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης, βορειοδυτικά, ως το 2027]

Topographic works, geological and geotechnical studies are currently being tendered for the project.

This extension will start from {{metro|Mikra}} and will continue to the south, with an underground part from Mikra to ASP (Higher School of War), an overground part to Georgikis Scholi Avenue and another overground part from IKEA to the airport.[http://www.kathimerini.gr/959286/article/epikairothta/ellada/eniaia-kyklikh-grammh-proteinei-h-attiko-metro-gia-th-8essalonikh Single circular line proposed by the Attiko Metro for Thessaloniki]

The overground parts of the line will probably stand at a height of 5 meters and on a bridge in order to avoid further delays due to possible archaeological finds.

The stations of the extension will be:

• Higher School of War (old name Marinou Antipa,{{Cite web |url=https://www.press-news.gr/metro-thessalonikis-dite-to-plires-diktio/#_ |title=THESSALONIKI METRO – See the complete network (route and stops) |accessdate=2018-04-30 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324232137/http://www.press-news.gr/metro-thessalonikis-dite-to-plires-diktio/#_ |archivedate=2016-03-24 |url-status=dead }} on Georgikis School Street), near Vrochidis and PAOK Sports Arena[https://www.ametro.gr/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/AM_19.03.2019_RFP_354_19_sxedio_prosartimatos_texnika_dedomena.pdf RFP-354/19 – "TOPOGRAPHIC STUDIES FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE THESSALONIKI METRO TO THE AIRPORT" MACEDONIA""]The railway line Thessaloniki-Mikra (Nikis-L. Stratou-Papanastasiou-Kanaris-Anaximandrou) passed through the ASP, information Michalis Tremopoulos, former MEP and historian of Thessaloniki's transport.
• Patriarchiko
• Interbalkan Medical Center (former names IKEA, "Green Lanterns" and "Shopping Centers", at the junction of Agricultural School and Asklipio, new stadium Aris, OASTH bus station)Terminal of the railway of the Thessaloniki-Mikras line that was operated from 2-2-1917 by the French during World War I for military needs (The railways in the Northern Hellenistic area p.78-81)
• Agricultural School (old names of the station Agricultural School, Agricultural School and Kombos Thermi, Green Traffic Lights, junction of G. School and EO Thes/kis-Polygyrou)[http://mixanikosose.blogspot.gr/2017/09/blog-post.html?m=1 Saturday, September 9, 2017 See photos of the Thessaloniki metro carriage at the Thessaloniki exhibition]The planned Casino Regency station between Geoponiki and Airport is not included{{Circular reference|date=August 2024}}
• Makedonia Airport
• Center for Innovation & Technology

Line 2 will be extended further to Thermi from Patriarchiko, with only one station currently planned.

• Thermi

On May 20, 2024, projected Line 3 was officially announced, as connection of the western with the northeastern districts of the city has been deemed necessary. Line 3 will run under Tsimiski avenue and parallel to Line 1, which will eventually meet at University station. However, from that station, it will head northeast.

The stations of Line 3 will be:

• Ano Evosmos
• Perifereiaki
• Evosmos
• Menemeni
• Ampelokipi
• {{metro|New Railway Station}} (adjacent station with Line 1)
• {{metro|Dimokratias}} (adjacent station with Line 1)
• Aristotelous Square
• H.A.N.Th.
• {{metro|Panepistimio|Thessaloniki}} (adjacent station with Line 1)
• Agios Dimitrios
• Toumba
• Charilaou
• Agia Kyriaki

Line 3 is further projected to include extensions to KTEL Macedonia and Kordelio. Breaking from the Ampelokipi station, this extension will include the following stations:

• Ampelokipi
• KTEL Macedonia
• Eptanisou
• Kordelio

file:Thessaloniki Metro train leaving depot for the first time.webm

In 2023 Azienda Trasporti Milanesi and Egis Group were awarded a {{nowrap|€250 million}} ({{nowrap|${{Inflation|US|{{To USD|250|EUR|year=2023|r=2}}|2023}} million}}) contract to operate the system under the operating company Thessaloniki Metro Automatic (THEMA) for 11 years, with a share of 51% and 49% respectively.{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Kevin |date=13 September 2023 |title=Rethinking public transport post Covid-19 |url=https://www.railjournal.com/in_depth/rethinking-public-transport-post-covid-19/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925223928/https://www.railjournal.com/in_depth/rethinking-public-transport-post-covid-19/ |archive-date=25 September 2023 |access-date=28 December 2024 |work=International Railway Journal |url-access=subscription}} NB: the archived version does not require a subscription.

The Thessaloniki Metro is of GoA4 category,{{Cite web |last=Καραγιάννης |first=Νίκος |date=2023-11-27 |title=Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης: "Τσεκ" από Κομισιόν για έργα και διαγωνισμό συντήρησης-λειτουργίας |url=https://ypodomes.com/metro-thessalonikis-eysima-apo-komision-gia-erga-kai-diagonismo-syntirisis-leitoyrgias/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=Ypodomes.com |language=el}} the first of its kind in Greece, as starting, stopping, and the operation of doors is fully automated without any on train staff.

{{see also|List of Thessaloniki Metro stations|Pylaia depot}}

All stations were designed with platform screen doors for maximum protection, while the trains are driverless. Eighteen Hitachi Rail Italy Driverless Metro units are in service on Line 1, and 15 will be on Line 2. The articulated, four-car trains are {{convert|50|m|ft}} long.{{Cite web |url=http://italy.hitachirail.com/en/salonicco_451.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911081809/http://italy.hitachirail.com/en/salonicco_451.html |archive-date=11 September 2018 |title=Salonicco |publisher=Hitachi Rail Italy |language=en |access-date=11 September 2018}} They have seating for 96 passengers and standing room for 370 more. The trains use 750 V DC third rail electrification, while tracks have been laid to the standard gauge of {{convert|1435|mm|ftin|abbr=on|frac=2}}. A carriage was on display at the September 2018 Thessaloniki International Fair before trial runs in 2019.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ypodomes.com/index.php/statheri-troxia/metro/thessalonikis/item/48619-afto-einai-to-proto-vagoni-tou-metro-thessalonikis |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911044533/https://www.ypodomes.com/index.php/statheri-troxia/metro/thessalonikis/item/48619-afto-einai-to-proto-vagoni-tou-metro-thessalonikis |archive-date=11 September 2018 |title=Αυτό είναι το πρώτο βαγόνι του Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης |language=el |trans-title=This is the first carriage of the Thessaloniki Metro |access-date=10 September 2018}} As of August 2019 two complete train sets have been delivered to the depot, with an additional train set expected every 2 to 3 months.{{Cite web |url=https://ypodomes.com/sti-thessaloniki-eftase-kai-deyteros-syrmos-metro/ |title=Στη Θεσσαλονίκη έφτασε και δεύτερος συρμός Μετρό |date=2019-08-02 |website=www.ypodomes.gr |language=el |trans-title=The second train set has arrived in Thessaloniki |access-date=2019-08-08}} The system's level of automation has prompted Attiko Metro to call it "the most modern metro in Europe".

A {{convert|50000|sqm|sqft|abbr=on}} depot was constructed with the intention of serving both lines, with a total built-up area of {{convert|120000|sqm|sqft|abbr=on}} and a total cost of €130.5 million (${{To USD|130.5|EUR|year=2017}} million).{{Cite web |url=http://www.thestival.gr/society/item/334864-%25CF%2584%25CE%25BF-%25CE%25B5%25CE%25BD%25CF%2584%25CF%2585%25CF%2580%25CF%2589%25CF%2583%25CE%25B9%25CE%25B1%25CE%25BA%25CF%258C-%25CE%25B1%25CE%25BC%25CE%25B1%25CE%25BE%25CE%25BF%25CF%2583%25CF%2584%25CE%25AC%25CF%2583%25CE%25B9%25CE%25BF-%25CF%2584%25CE%25BF%25CF%2585-%25CE%25BC%25CE%25B5%25CF%2584%25CF%2581%25CF%258C-%25CE%25B8%25CE%25B5%25CF%2583%25CF%2583%25CE%25B1%25CE%25BB%25CE%25BF%25CE%25BD%25CE%25AF%25CE%25BA%25CE%25B7%25CF%2582-%25CF%2583%25CF%2584%25CE%25B7%25CE%25BD-%25CF%2580%25CF%2585%25CE%25BB%25CE%25B1%25CE%25AF%25CE%25B1-%25CE%25B5%25CF%2580%25CE%25B9%25CF%2583%25CE%25BA%25CE%25AD%25CF%2586%25CE%25B8%25CE%25B7%25CE%25BA%25CE%25B5-%25CE%25BF-%25CF%2587%25CF%2581-%25CF%2583%25CF%2580%25CE%25AF%25CF%2581%25CF%2584%25CE%25B6%25CE%25B7%25CF%2582-%25CF%2586%25CF%2589%25CF%2584%25CE%25BF-video |title=Το εντυπωσιακό αμαξοστάσιο του μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης στην Πυλαία επισκέφθηκε ο Χρ. Σπίρτζης |last=Kokolakos |first=Vaggelis |date=13 September 2017 |website=www.thestival.gr |language=el-GR |trans-title=Christos Spirtzis visited the impressive depot of the Thessaloniki Metro in Pylaia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231100756/http://www.thestival.gr/society/item/334864-%CF%84%CE%BF-%CE%B5%CE%BD%CF%84%CF%85%CF%80%CF%89%CF%83%CE%B9%CE%B1%CE%BA%CF%8C-%CE%B1%CE%BC%CE%B1%CE%BE%CE%BF%CF%83%CF%84%CE%AC%CF%83%CE%B9%CE%BF-%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85-%CE%BC%CE%B5%CF%84%CF%81%CF%8C-%CE%B8%CE%B5%CF%83%CF%83%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%BD%CE%AF%CE%BA%CE%B7%CF%82-%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B7%CE%BD-%CF%80%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%B1%CE%AF%CE%B1-%CE%B5%CF%80%CE%B9%CF%83%CE%BA%CE%AD%CF%86%CE%B8%CE%B7%CE%BA%CE%B5-%CE%BF-%CF%87%CF%81-%CF%83%CF%80%CE%AF%CF%81%CF%84%CE%B6%CE%B7%CF%82-%CF%86%CF%89%CF%84%CE%BF-video |archive-date=31 December 2018 |access-date=4 January 2019}} Apart from being the system's automated remote control command centre, the complex also houses the offices of Elliniko Metro, the Thessaloniki Transport Authority (TheTA), and the Thessaloniki Metro operating company, as well as railway stock maintenance facilities, two restaurants, and a crèche.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ypodomes.com/index.php/statheri-troxia/metro/thessalonikis/item/45779-to-amaksostasio-tou-metro-thessalonikis-ginetai-to-neo-emvlimatiko-ktirio-tis-polis |title=Tο Αμαξοστάσιο του Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης γίνεται το νέο εμβληματικό κτίριο της πόλης |last=Karagiannis |first=Nikos |date=12 March 2018 |website=www.ypodomes.com |language=el-gr |trans-title=The Thessaloniki Metro depot is turning into the most emblematic building in the city |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104125908/https://www.ypodomes.com/index.php/statheri-troxia/metro/thessalonikis/item/45779-to-amaksostasio-tou-metro-thessalonikis-ginetai-to-neo-emvlimatiko-ktirio-tis-polis |archive-date=4 January 2019 |access-date=4 January 2019}}{{Cite web |url=https://parallaximag.gr/thessaloniki/stin-pylaia-vrisketai-kardia-tou-metro-tis-thessalonikis |title=Στην Πυλαία βρίσκεται η καρδιά του Μετρό της Θεσσαλονίκης |date=27 April 2018 |website=www.parallaximag.gr |language=el |trans-title=The heart of the Thessaloniki Metro is in Pylaia |access-date=4 January 2019}} It is expected that the development of the depot will attract investment to the area, and there have been calls to make provisions for a passenger station at the depot. The depot complex is expected to be finished in May 2019.

File:Agiassofias.jpg|alt=Wide, modern corridor|Thessaloniki Metro stations are equipped with platform screen doors on island platforms.

File:Thessaloniki Metro Ansaldo Breda Driverless Metro carriage, 15 September 2018.png|alt=Modern metro car at a platform, with doors open|Thessaloniki Metro Hitachi Rail Italy Driverless Metro carriage at the September 2018 Thessaloniki International Fair

{{Thessaloniki Metro fares|File:ThessCard front view.png}}

As part of the initial design, 3,700 park and ride parking spaces were created – 1,050 spaces at {{metro|New Railway Station}}, 650 spaces {{metro|Nea Elvetia}}, and a further 2,000 at {{metro|Panepistimio|Thessaloniki}}, the system's halfway point serving Greece's largest university. Additional parking will be created at {{metro|Mikra}}, the terminus of Line 2.{{cite web |author=Attiko Metro S.A. |url=http://www.ametro.gr/?page_id=4213&lang=en |title=Extension to Kalamaria |website=www.ametro.gr |access-date=17 August 2018}}

Elliniko Metro conducted a 2005 survey to determine Thessaloniki residents' preferred fare for the metro compared to the standard price of a Thessaloniki Urban Transport Organization (OASTH) bus ticket (€0.50 at the time). Of the 400 respondents, 47.6 percent said that they were willing to pay the same price and 48.1 percent said they would pay more. Of the latter, 19.9 percent said that they would pay €0.60; 19.6 percent would pay €0.70, and 8.6 percent would be willing to pay €1.00 (double the cost of a bus ticket).{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FQG-UcN3ajcC&q=thessaloniki%2520metro&pg=PA14 |title=Urban Transport XIV: Urban Transport and the Environment in the 21st Century |last=Brebbia |first=C. A. |date=2008 |publisher=WIT Press |isbn=9781845641238 |page=6 |language=English}} The remaining 4.7 percent responded with another fare. A standard 2023 single-trip OASTH bus ticket is €0.90, or €0.45 with a discount.{{Cite web |title=Κόμιστρα |trans-title=Fares |url=https://oasth.gr/el/komistra/ |access-date=18 February 2023 |website=oasth.gr |publisher=Thessaloniki Urban Transport Organization |language=Greek}}

Thessaloniki Metro utilises an electronic card ticketing system as well as fare gates,{{Cite video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNO9ledXCKU |title=Ο πρώτος σταθμός του μετρό της Θεσσαλονίκης |date=28 December 2018 |type=Video |language=Greek|publisher=Skai TV on YouTube |trans-title=The first Thessaloniki Metro station |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121233004/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNO9ledXCKU |archive-date=21 January 2019}} a system not originally implemented on the Athens Metro. In October 2024 it was reported that there was concern the ticketing system might not be ready on time for the opening on 30 November, due to the Thessaloniki Transport Authority not initiating the procurement process on time.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/economy/1249819/long-delayed-launch-of-thessaloniki-metro-threatened-by-ticketing-fiasco/ |title=Long-delayed launch of Thessaloniki Metro threatened by ticketing fiasco |first=Konstantina |last=Konti |date=1 October 2024 |website=www.ekathimerini.gr |publisher=Kathimerini |access-date=14 November 2024}} The company attempted to bypass procurement requirements claiming extraordinary circumstances but the Court of Audit ruled this illegal, saying that the opening date of the metro was not an extraordinary circumstance, and that the size of the order (2.7 million paper tickets and 100,000 plastic cards) necessitated a public invitation to tender.

In November 2024 it was announced that a typical ticket will cost €0.90, but the cost will be reduced to €0.60 for the first six months of the system's operations.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/environment/1252656/government-announces-lower-ticket-prices-to-boost-use-of-new-thessaloniki-metro/ |title=Government announces lower ticket prices to boost use of new Thessaloniki metro |date=5 November 2024 |website=www.ekathimerini.gr |publisher=Kathimerini |access-date=14 November 2024}} A monthly ticket will cost €16, compared to €27 for a monthly bus pass for the city's bus network. This makes Thessaloniki Metro one of the most affordable means of public transport in Europe and the world according to data compiled by Compare the Market Australia, and the cheapest among major cities in the Greek-speaking world.{{Cite web |title=Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης: Mια από τις πιο προσιτές επιλογές στις δημόσιες μεταφορές στην Ελλάδα |trans-title=Thessaloniki Metro: One of the most affordable choices in Greek public transport |url=https://www.economistas.gr/ypodomes-kataskeyes/67140_metro-thessalonikis-mia-apo-tis-pio-prosites-epiloges-stis-dimosies |access-date=29 November 2024 |date=27 November 2024 |website=www.economista.gr |language=Greek}}

{{multiple image

| direction = vertical

| width = 150

| image1 = Greek minuscule Mu.svg

| alt1 = Greek minuscule letter Mu

| caption1 = Variations of the letter μ in Greek manuscripts

| image2 = Thessaloniki Metro logo.svg

| alt2 = Thessaloniki Metro logo

| caption2 = The system logo

}}

In preparation for the start of operations on 30 November 2024, Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Christos Staikouras revealed the system's brand identity. The central design element is lowercase Greek letter M (μ), in the Greek miniscule style used to write Medieval Greek manuscripts, in reference to the city's Byzantine history.{{Cite web|url=https://www.emetro.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Presentation-Logo.pdf |title=Εφαρμογή Οπτικής Ταυτότητας Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης |trans-title=Brand Identity Applications of the Thessaloniki Metro |date=November 2024 |access-date=14 November 2024 |publisher=Elliniko Metro |language=Greek |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202010718/https://www.emetro.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Presentation-Logo.pdf |archive-date=2 December 2024}} Dark blue was chosen as the main brand colour, to symbolise stability. The SIL Open Font Commissioner was chosen for the word 'metro' in the logo, and for promotional materials and signage.

The logo attracted criticism both for its cost and its aesthetics, the latter particularly on social media due to its simplicity.{{Cite web |url=https://www.avgi.gr/koinonia/496363_o-diagonismos-eihe-amoibi-8000-gia-logotypo-edosan-me-30000-apeytheias-se-etaireia |title=Ο διαγωνισμός είχε αμοιβή 8.000 για το λογότυπο - Το έδωσαν με 30.000 απευθείας σε εταιρεία |trans-title=The compatition had an 8,000 reward for the logo - They appointed it directly to a company for 30,000 |date=14 November 2024 |website=www.avgi.gr |publisher=I Avgi |access-date=14 November 2024 |language=Greek}}{{Cite web |url=https://parallaximag.gr/thessaloniki-news/logotypo-metro-h-grafistiki-koinotita-emvrontiti-scholiazei |title=ΛΟΓΟΤΥΠΟ ΜΕΤΡΟ: H γραφιστική κοινότητα εμβρόντητη σχολιάζει |trans-title=METRO LOGO: The graphic design community comments in awe |date=14 November 2024 |website=www.parallaximag.gr |publisher=Parallaxi Magazine |access-date=14 November 2024 |language=Greek}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.kathimerini.gr/society/563322235/metro-thessalonikis-to-m-poy-esose-ena-diagonismo-kai-dichase-mia-olokliri-poli/ |title=Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης: Το "μ" που έσωσε ένα διαγωνισμό και δίχασε μια ολόκληρη πόλη |trans-title=Thessaloniki Metro: The "μ" that saved a competition and divided an entire city |first=Dimitris |last=Rigopoulos |date=14 November 2024 |website=www.kathimerini.gr |publisher=Kathimerini |access-date=14 November 2024 |language=Greek}} Elliniko Metro initiated two design competitions, with an initial prize of €8,000 (${{Formatnum:{{To USD|8000|EUR|year=2023|round=yes}}}}), but both were cancelled and the contract was instead awarded directly to a company for €30,000 (${{Formatnum:{{To USD|30000|EUR|year=2023|round=yes}}}}). The company retorted that the second competition was cancelled due to not being satisfied with the bids received (8 in total), eventually deciding to award the €30,000 prize money to a company directly in order for the visual identity to be ready on time,{{Cite web |url=https://www.protothema.gr/greece/article/1561938/i-anakoinosi-tis-etaireias-elliniko-metro-gia-to-logotupo-tou-metro-thessalonikis/ |title=Η ανακοίνωση της εταιρείας Ελληνικό Μετρό για το λογότυπο του μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης |trans-title=The Elliniko Metro Announcement regarding the Thessaloniki Metro logo |date=14 November 2024 |website=www.protothema.gr |publisher=Proto Thema |access-date=14 November 2024 |language=Greek}} while the Architects' Association of Thessaloniki accused the company of deliberately orchestrating the situation in order to give the contract to an "obscure start-up which did not even have a website at the time of its appointment",{{Cite web |url=https://www.voria.gr/article/methodeyseis-gia-logotypo-toy-metro-kataggellei-o-syllogos-arhitektonon-thessalonikis |title=Μεθοδεύσεις για το λογότυπο του Μετρό καταγγέλλει ο Σύλλογος Αρχιτεκτόνων Θεσσαλονίκης |trans-title=The Architects' Association of Thessaloniki denounces machinations regarding the Metro logo |date=14 November 2024 |website=www.voria.gr |access-date=14 November 2024 |language=Greek}} a situation it described as "a sham process - at the expense of fellow architects and other related professionals (graphic designers, artists) and ultimately the local community" as part of a "long list of direct appointments". The spokesman of the Government of Greece described concerns around the brand's aesthetics as "legitimate", but otherwise defended both the design and the companies involved.{{Cite web |url=https://designmag.gr/metro-skg-8 |title=Στην πολιτική συζήτηση ο λογότυπος του Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης |trans-title=The Thessaloniki Metro logo in political discussions |date=15 November 2024 |website=www.designmag.gr |access-date=17 November 2024 |language=Greek |quote=Θεμιτή η οποιαδήποτε αντίδραση κάποιου για ένα ζήτημα αισθητικής. Έχει βγάλει εμπεριστατωμένη ανάλυση η εταιρεία που το δημιούργησε. Και η εταιρεία του Μετρό που έκανε την ανάθεση. Είναι απολύτως σύννομα όλα. Είχαμε δύο διαφορετικές περιπτώσεις διαγωνισμών η μια κηρύχθηκε άγονη και οι άλλες υποψηφιότητες δεν μπορούσαν να σταθούν. Υπάρχει δικαιολόγηση από σχετική μελέτη. Δεν μπορώ να κάνω κάποιο άλλο σχόλιο. Το λογότυπο έχει μια σχετική φιλοσοφία. |trans-quote=Any person's reaction to an aesthetic issue is legitimate. The company that created it has done a thorough analysis. And the Metro company that made the appointment. It's all perfectly legal. We had two different cases of contests, one was declared fruitless and the other nominations could not stand. There is justification from a relevant study. I can't offer any further comment. The logo has a related philosophy.}}

In an examination of the metadata on the official branding presentation document published by Elliniko Metro, carried out by +Design Magazine, it was revealed that the document was not originally created by MnMS, the company that Elliniko Metro directly appointed to design the logo, but rather by Palladian, one of the companies which has submitted bids in the competition.{{Cite web |url=https://designmag.gr/metro-skg-10/ |title=Ποιος πραγματικά "σχεδίασε" το λογότυπο του Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης; |trans-title=Who really "designed" the Thessaloniki Metro logo? |date=17 November 2024 |first=Nestoras |last=Kehagias |website=www.designmag.gr |access-date=17 November 2024 |language=Greek}} The two companies were previously based in the same building in Athens, raising further questions. Elliniko Metro amended the metadata five hours after the official unveiling of the logo, changing among others the name of the author, but had already disseminated the unaltered presentation to media outlets such as Naftemporiki.

The use of colours on the metro lines is inconsistent; in-station maps and platform signage shows Line 1 as red and Line 2 as blue, in line with the brand guidelines, but the official Thessaloniki Metro website shows them as blue and yellow respectively.{{Cite web |title=Kalamaria Extension |url=https://www.thessmetro.gr/en/expansion-to-kalamaria/ |website=www.thessmetro.gr |date=October 2024 |access-date=4 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204224725/https://www.thessmetro.gr/en/expansion-to-kalamaria/ |publisher=Thessaloniki Metro |archive-date=4 December 2024}}

File:Thessaloniki historic city centre (with metro).svg

A large number of important archaeological finds, primarily Roman and early Christian and Byzantine, have been discovered during the metro's construction. The project triggered the largest archaeological dig in northern Greek history, covering a {{convert|20|sqkm|sqmi|adj=on}} area.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ametro.gr/?p=13667 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909035429/http://www.ametro.gr/?p=13667 |archive-date=9 September 2018 |title=ΑΤΤΙΚΟ ΜΕΤΡΟ: "Το Μέτρο στη πόλη μας" με το πρώτο του βαγόνι. Συμμετοχή της Αττικό Μετρό Α.Ε. στην 83η Δ.Ε.Θ. |website=www.ametro.gr |language=el |trans-title=Attiko Metro: "The Metro in our city" with the first carriage. The participation of Attiko Metro S.A. at the 83rd Thessaloniki International Fair |access-date=8 September 2018}} Between the new railway station and Sintrivani/Ekthesi, the metro runs below Egnatia Street (one of Thessaloniki's main arteries). Egnatia follows the Roman Via Egnatia, which connected Rome and Constantinople as one of the two most important roads in the Roman and Byzantine empires.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6yelCgAAQBAJ&q=via%2520egnatia%2520important%2520road&pg=PA340 |title=The Utilization of Slag in Civil Infrastructure Construction |last=Wang |first=George C. |date=24 June 2016 |publisher=Woodhead Publishing |isbn=9780081003978 |page=340 |language=en}} The portion of the Via Egnatia which passed through Thessaloniki was the city's Decumanus Maximus (main road), and runs below present-day Egnatia Street at {{convert|5.4|m|ft}} below ground level.{{cite web |author=Skai TV |url=http://www.skai.gr/player/TV/?mmid=305842 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813044008/http://www.skai.gr/player/TV/?mmid=305842 |archive-date=13 August 2018 |title=Ιστορίες: Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης |trans-title=Stories: Thessaloniki Metro |website=www.skai.gr |access-date=13 August 2018 |language=el}}

Although the location of the Via Egnatia in Thessaloniki was known when the metro line was planned, it was uncertain what else was buried nearby. The metro was planned to run at {{convert|8|m|ft}} below ground, leaving only {{convert|2.6|m|ft}} between it and the ancient road. The discovery of a Byzantine road at Venizelou station was a major archaeological find: {{convert|75|m|ft}} of the marble-paved and column-lined road was unearthed, with shops, other buildings, and plumbing which one scholar called "the Byzantine Pompeii".{{cite news |author=Giorgos Christides |date=14 March 2013 |title=Thessaloniki metro: Ancient dilemma for modern Greece |website=www.bbc.co.uk |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21743758 |url-status=live |access-date=13 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915164845/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21743758 |archive-date=15 September 2017}} A crossroads, marked with a tetrapylon, was found at Venizelou where the Decumanus Maximus crossed a cardo (a north–south road). An additional {{convert|22|m|ft}} of the same road was discovered at the {{metro|Agias Sofias}} station. Issues concerning archaeological finds and the display of artefacts in the metro system are more complex than similar issues surrounding the construction of the New Acropolis Museum.{{Cite journal |last1=Zosia |first1=Archibald |last2=Morgan |first2=Catherine |last3=Smith |first3=David M. |last4=Murphy-Smith |first4=Helen |last5=Pitt |first5=Robert |last6=Papadopoulou |first6=Chryssanthi |last7=Marchand |first7=Fabienne |last8=Haysom |first8=Matthew |last9=Livarda |first9=Alexandra |date=2013 |title=Archaeology in Greece 2013{{endash}}2014 |journal=The Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies |language=en |pages=9, 100 |jstor=43187051 |last10=Stewart |first10=Daniel|issue=60 }}

Other important discoveries included a headless statue of Aphrodite, fourth-century-AD mosaics, a golden wreath, a bath complex, urban villas, and 50,000 coins.{{Cite web |url=https://www.newsweek.com/greece-subway-construction-unearths-ancient-aphrodite-statue-and-stunning-820252 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911191459/https://www.newsweek.com/greece-subway-construction-unearths-ancient-aphrodite-statue-and-stunning-820252 |archive-date=11 September 2018 |title=Greece: subway construction unearths ancient Aphrodite statue and stunning mosaic floors |date=26 February 2018 |website=www.newsweek.com |location=Newsweek |language=en |access-date=11 September 2018}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/thessaloniki-subway-dig-unearths-secrets-of-city-under-the-city |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911225129/https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/thessaloniki-subway-dig-unearths-secrets-of-city-under-the-city |archive-date=11 September 2018 |title=Thessaloniki subway dig unearths secrets of 'city under the city' |date=28 April 2018 |newspaper=The Straits Times |language=en |access-date=11 September 2018}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/news/the-golden-wreaths-of-the-thessaloniki-metro-excavations/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911193205/https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/news/the-golden-wreaths-of-the-thessaloniki-metro-excavations/ |archive-date=11 September 2018 |title=The Golden Wreaths of the Thessaloniki Metro Excavations |date=29 January 2013 |website=www.biblicalarchaeology.org |publisher=Biblical Archaeology Society |language=en-US |access-date=11 September 2018}}{{Cite web |url=http://diaspora.parliament.gr/en-us/Newsletter/archaeologists-unearth-headless-aphrodite-statue-in-thessaloniki |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911191940/http://diaspora.parliament.gr/en-us/Newsletter/archaeologists-unearth-headless-aphrodite-statue-in-thessaloniki |archive-date=11 September 2018 |title=Archaeologists unearth headless Aphrodite statue in Thessaloniki |date=22 February 2018 |website=www.diaspora.parliament.gr |publisher=Hellenic Parliament |access-date=11 September 2018}} Artifacts from the 1917 fire were also found.{{Cite web |url=https://www.protagon.gr/epikairotita/thessaloniki-ola-ta-arxaia-pou-anadythikan-mesw-metro-44341572063 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909073924/https://www.protagon.gr/epikairotita/thessaloniki-ola-ta-arxaia-pou-anadythikan-mesw-metro-44341572063 |archive-date=9 September 2018 |website=www.protagon.gr |title=Θεσσαλονίκη: Ολα τα αρχαία που αναδύθηκαν μέσω… Μετρό|trans-title=Thessaloniki: All the antiquities that surfaced via... the metro |language=el |access-date=9 September 2018}}

The discovery sparked controversy in Thessaloniki; Attiko Metro wanted to remove the antiquities and re-assemble them elsewhere, and the city's archaeological services wanted the company to alter the depth of the line and the station entrances. The city council sided with the archaeological services in 2015, three years after the metro was originally planned to begin service. Mayor Yiannis Boutaris took the case to the Council of State, Greece's highest administrative court.{{Cite web |url=http://www.tovima.gr/2013/08/29/international/construction-of-thessaloniki-metro-to-resume-after-agreement-reached/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911191606/http://www.tovima.gr/2013/08/29/international/construction-of-thessaloniki-metro-to-resume-after-agreement-reached/ |archive-date=11 September 2018 |title=Construction of Thessaloniki Metro to resume after agreement reached |date=29 August 2013 |website=www.tovima.gr |publisher=To Vima |access-date=11 September 2018}} Attiko Metro redesigned the line, sinking the tunnels to depths from {{convert|14|to|31|m|ft}} and providing for mini-museums in the stations similar to the Syntagma metro station in Athens (which houses the Syntagma Metro Station Archaeological Collection).{{cite web |author=Attiko Metro S.A. |url=http://www.ametro.gr/?page_id=165 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813043621/http://www.ametro.gr/?page_id=165 |archive-date=13 August 2018 |title=Αρχαιολογικές ανασκαφές |trans-title=Archaeological excavations |website=www.ametro.gr |access-date=13 August 2018 |language=el}} The Venizelou station will contain an open archaeological site, the world's first metro station to do so.

Archaeological costs had increased to €188.5 million (${{To USD|188.5|EUR|year=2023|round=yes}} million) by 2023,{{Cite news |orig-date=26 September 2023 |title=Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης: Στα 188,5 εκατ. ευρώ εκτινάχθηκε η δαπάνη για τα αρχαιολογικά |trans-title=Thessaloniki Metro: Costs for archaeological works skyrocketed to 188.5 million euro |url=https://www.makthes.gr/metro-thessalonikis-sta-188-5-ekat-ektinachthike-i-dapani-gia-ta-archaiologika-666968 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204123716/https://www.makthes.gr/metro-thessalonikis-sta-188-5-ekat-ektinachthike-i-dapani-gia-ta-archaiologika-666968 |archive-date=4 December 2024 |access-date=4 December 2024 |language=Greek |agency=Makedonia}} compared with the original archaeological budget of €15 million (${{To USD|15|EUR|year=2017|round=yes}} million), and employ 300 archaeologists. Over 300,000 artefacts have been unearthed to date. The archaeological work is being carried out by the Ministry of Culture and Sports' Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities and the Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities.

• 14 December 2024 {{endash}} A Hitachi Rail Italy Driverless Metro unit lost power shortly after departing {{metro|Fleming}} station, and passengers had to escape through the tunnel to the nearest station.{{Cite press release |title=Announcement regarding the immobilization of a train due to a power outage |date=14 December 2024 |publisher=Thessaloniki Metro Automatic (THEMA) |url-status=live |url=https://www.thessmetro.gr/en/2024/12/14/announcement/ |access-date=22 December 2024}} Operation returned to normal about 90 minutes later. There were no injuries, but the Thessaloniki Prosecutor's Office ordered a criminal investigation to determine whether the relevant safety protocols (particularly as they relate to people with mobility issues) were followed.{{Cite news |date=17 December 2024 |title=Θεσσαλονίκη: Επείγουσα εισαγγελική έρευνα για την ακινητοποίηση και την εκκένωση συρμού του μετρό |trans-title=Thessaloniki: Urgent prosecutorial investigation into the immobilisation and evacuation of the metro train |url=https://www.kathimerini.gr/society/563378197/thessaloniki-epeigoysa-eisaggeliki-ereyna-gia-tin-akinitopoiisi-kai-ekkenosi-syrmoy-toy-metro/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241222222058/https://www.kathimerini.gr/society/563378197/thessaloniki-epeigoysa-eisaggeliki-ereyna-gia-tin-akinitopoiisi-kai-ekkenosi-syrmoy-toy-metro/ |archive-date=22 December 2024 |access-date=22 December 2024 |work=Kathimerini |language=Greek}}

In the past, Thessaloniki Metro was regularly the subject of a number of jokes in Greece due to its successive construction and operation delays.{{Cite web |url=http://parallaximag.gr/life/kosmos/sta-megalitera-metro-tou-kosmou |title=Υπάρχουν τα μετρό…και το Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης! |date=11 June 2016 |website=www.parallaximag.gr |language=el |trans-title=There's metros... and then there's the Thessaloniki Metro |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170612152228/http://parallaximag.gr/life/kosmos/sta-megalitera-metro-tou-kosmou |archive-date=12 June 2017 |access-date=24 September 2018}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.typosthes.gr/gr/topika/article/109715/oasth--thessaloniki-mia-shesi-hudaias-exartisis/ |title=ΟΑΣΘ – Θεσσαλονίκη: μία σχέση χυδαίας εξάρτησης |trans-title=OASTH {{endash}} Thessaloniki: a relationship of gross dependency |last=Papadimitriou |first=Georgios |date=24 September 2016 |website=www.typosthes.gr |language=el |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029085404/http://www.typosthes.gr/gr/topika/article/109715/oasth--thessaloniki-mia-shesi-hudaias-exartisis |archive-date=29 October 2016 |access-date=24 September 2018 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/gr/article/4xynnm/metro-thessalonikis-30-years-lol-epic-fail-megalo-ergo |title=Ήμουν Νιός και Γέρασα: Τριάντα Χρόνια Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης Χωρίς Μετρό στη Θεσσαλονίκη |last=Makrogiannelis |first=Giannis |date=8 July 2016 |website=www.vice.gr |publisher=Vice News |language=el |trans-title=I was Young and now I'm Old: Thirty Years of Thessaloniki Metro without a Metro in Thessaloniki |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914081119/https://www.vice.com/gr/article/4xynnm/metro-thessalonikis-30-years-lol-epic-fail-megalo-ergo |archive-date=14 September 2017 |access-date=25 September 2018}}{{Cite web |url=https://luben.tv/stream/149040 |title=Ένα χρόνο ακόμη έχουμε για να κάνουμε αστεία με το Μετρό της Θεσσαλονίκης |date=30 March 2018 |website=www.luben.tv |publisher=Luben |language=el |trans-title=We only have one more year left to make jokes about the Thessaloniki Metro |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925102715/https://luben.tv/stream/149040 |archive-date=25 September 2018 |access-date=25 September 2018}} News satire websites joked about the situation on numerous occasions with stories such as "Thessaloniki Metro will operate as a Christmas village during the holiday season"{{Cite web |url=http://www.tokoulouri.com/economy/mpougatsa_me_kswtika/ |title=Ως Χριστουγεννιάτικο χωριό θα λειτουργεί το Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης για την περίοδο των εορτών |website=www.tokoulouri.com |date=28 November 2017 |publisher=To Koulouri |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919080356/http://www.tokoulouri.com/economy/mpougatsa_me_kswtika/ |archive-date=19 September 2018 |access-date=24 September 2018}} and "Strike at the ThessalonikI Metro continues for the 763rd day".{{Cite web |url=http://www.tokoulouri.com/economy/metro_kleisto/ |title=Συνεχίζεται για 763η ημέρα η απεργία στο μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112213252/http://www.tokoulouri.com/economy/metro_kleisto/ |website=www.tokoulouri.com |date=27 September 2016 |publisher=To Koulouri |archive-date=12 January 2018 |access-date=24 September 2018 |url-status=live }} It has also been likened to the folk tale of the never-ending construction of the bridge of Arta.{{Cite news |last=Papadimitriou |first=Giorgos |orig-date=7 September 2024 |title=Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης: Η τελευταία ΔΕΘ χωρίς το δικό μας Γιοφύρι της Άρτας |trans-title=Thessaloniki Metro: The last Thessaloniki International Fair without our own Bridge of Arta |url=https://www.typosthes.gr/thessaloniki/362452_metro-thessalonikis-i-teleytaia-deth-horis-diko-mas-giofyri-tis-artas |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204130018/https://www.typosthes.gr/thessaloniki/362452_metro-thessalonikis-i-teleytaia-deth-horis-diko-mas-giofyri-tis-artas |archive-date=4 December 2024 |access-date=4 December 2024 |language=Greek |agency=TyposThes}}{{Cite news |last=Tsakonas |first=Dimitris |orig-date=5 July 2010 |title=Νέο "Γεφύρι της Άρτας" το μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης |trans-title=Thessaloniki Metro is a new "Bridge of Arta" |url=https://www.voria.gr/article/neo-gefuri-tis-artas-to-metro-thessalonikis |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204130424/https://www.voria.gr/article/neo-gefuri-tis-artas-to-metro-thessalonikis |archive-date=4 December 2024 |language=Greek |agency=www.voria.gr}}

A fictionalised version of {{metro|Sintrivani}} station (under the older name of Sintrivani/Ekthesi) was depicted in the film The Bricklayer, which was set in Thessaloniki, prior to the metro system becoming operational; this drew laughter from cinema audiences in the city.{{Cite web |last=Theodoridou |first=Eleni |title=Καταδίωξη στην Άνω Πόλη και Μετρό σε λειτουργία - Πόση Θεσσαλονίκη έχει τελικά το "The Bricklayer"; |trans-title=Pursuit in Ano Poli and an operational Metro - How much Thessaloniki is there really in The Bricklayer? |url=https://www.makthes.gr/katadioksi-stin-ano-poli-kai-metro-se-leitoyrghia-posi-thessaloniki-echei-telika-to-the-bricklayer-686820 |access-date=2 December 2024 |date=26 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207190656/https://www.makthes.gr/katadioksi-stin-ano-poli-kai-metro-se-leitoyrghia-posi-thessaloniki-echei-telika-to-the-bricklayer-686820 |archive-date= 7 February 2024|language=Greek |website=www.makthes.gr |publisher=Makedonia |quote=Τέλος, χαρακτηριστική είναι η σκηνή που οι ηθοποιοί μπήκαν υποτίθεται στο μετρό της Θεσσαλονίκης όπου το κοινό, δικαιολογημένα, δεν μπόρεσε να κρατηθεί και ξέσπασε σε γέλια.|trans-quote=Finally, the scene where the actors entered the Thessaloniki Metro is typical, at which point the audience, justifiably, could not hold back and burst out laughing.}}

After operation of the metro system began on 30 November 2024, public focus shifted towards its proper use and maintenance.{{Cite web |title=Μετρό Θεσσαλονίκης: Δέκα πράγματα που πρέπει να ξέρετε τώρα που άνοιξε |url= https://www.cnn.gr/oikonomia/anaptyxi/longform/450473/metro-thessalonikis-deka-pragmata-pou-prepei-na-kserete-tora-pou-anoikse |access-date=6 December 2024 |date=30 November 2024}}

• List of metro systems
• Thessaloniki Urban Transport Organization
• Athens Metro

{{notelist}}

{{NoteFoot}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070705112935/http://www.ametro.gr/cgi-bin/showplan.cgi Archived information]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070312035928/http://www.ametro.gr/cgi-bin/showpress.cgi?id=75 Thessaloniki Metro and the Athens Metro Extensions] (Greek Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works press release 2006-02-20)
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070312035937/http://www.ametro.gr/cgi-bin/showpress.cgi?id=77 Conclusion of contract for the Thessaloniki metro] (Greek Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works press release 2006-04-07)

{{commons category|Thessaloniki Metro}}

{{Attached KML}}

• [https://thessmetro.gr/en Official website]
• [https://oseth.com.gr/en Thessaloniki Transport Authority (OSETH/TheTA)]
• [https://emetro.gr/?page_id=4194&lang=en Elliniko Metro SA (construction company) {{endash}} Thessaloniki Metro]
• [https://emetro.gr/?page_id=4478&lang=en Maps]
• [https://www.emetro.gr/?page_id=4213&lang=en Project Progress (Kalamaria Extension)]

{{Thessaloniki Metro navbox}}

{{Urban transport in Greece}}

{{Underground rapid transit in the European Union and the United Kingdom}}

Category:Thessaloniki (regional unit)

Category:Electric railways in Greece

Category:Underground rapid transit in Greece

Category:Transport in Thessaloniki

Category:Railway lines opened in 2024

Category:2024 establishments in Greece