History
1869
The first railway line in Greece, the “Railway from Athens to Piraeus” (S.A.P.) is constructed, running from Thissio to Piraeus.
1883
The Katakolo Tower Railway (S.P.K.) is inaugurated.
1884
The first section of the Piraeus-Athens-Peloponnese Railways (S.P.A.P.) is delivered in operation, running from Piraeus to Elefsina. The construction of the Peloponnese metric gauge network will be completed in 1902.
1884-1885
The metric gauge lines Volos-Larissa and Volos-Kalambaka of the Thessalia Railways (S.TH.) start to operate.
1885
The Athens-Lavrion line of the Attica Railways (S.Α.), with the Heraklion-Kifissia branch, is inaugurated.
1890
The Messologgi-Agrinio line of the Northwestern Greece Railways (S.VD.E.) starts to operate.
1896
The construction of 22 km of the Odontotos Rack Railway Diakofto-Kalavryta (D.K.) is completed.
1904-1909
The “Larissaykos” standard gauge line of the Piraeus-Demerli (Palaiofarsalos)–Sinoron (Papapouli) Railway (P.D.S.), of the Greek Railways Company (Ε.Ε.S.), is delivered in operation. Athens and Piraeus are connected with Central Greece and the then Greek-Turkish borders. “Larissaykos” has given its name to the current “Larissa Station” RS located in Athens.
1916
The connecting part Papapouli-Platy is completed, which connects the P.D.S. Line with the former Ottoman networks in Macedonia and Thrace of the Companies: Eastern Railways (Α.S.), Thessaloniki-Monastiri Railway (Th.Μ.) and Thessaloniki-Constantinople Connecting Railway (Ε.Th.Κ).
1920
The Greek State Railways are established, as a joint administration of the two independent state railway companies P.D.S. and S.P.A.P. The gradual purchase of the Ottoman companies in Macedonia and Thrace (A.S., Th.Μ. and E.Th.Κ.) starts.
1929
The French-Hellenic Railways Company (G.Ε.S.) undertakes the Alexandroupoli-Svilengrad section of the former Eastern Railways.
1932
The S.E.K. integrate the Local Macedonia
Railways (Τ.S.Μ.), which in 1923 had
undertaken the operation of the Skydra-Aridaia line.
Railways (Τ.S.Μ.), which in 1923 had
undertaken the operation of the Skydra-Aridaia line.
1940-1944
The railways undertake a significant traffic load during the 1940 war action. Railway losses and multiple sabotage attacks by the Greek resistance during the German Occupation. Huge destruction of rolling stock, engineering structures and facilities by the Occupation Army, culminating during their departure.
1949
After five years of restoration works as a result of war destruction, the railway connection between Athens and Thessaloniki is restored.
1961
The S.E.K. start to use diesel locomotion, with the procurement of 10 diesel locomotives by ALCO (USA). Steam locomotives gradually become obsolete.
At the same time, the S.P.A.P. construct their first diesel locomotive in their Central Factory, based on the design of the engineer Vyronas Papageorgiou.
At the same time, the S.P.A.P. construct their first diesel locomotive in their Central Factory, based on the design of the engineer Vyronas Papageorgiou.
1970
The new Hellenic Railways Organization (O.S.E.) is established, as a public company in the form of a Societe Anonyme. The new Organization started to operate on 1-1-1971.
1979
OSE establishes -for the first time in Greece- the Railway Museum. Initially, it hosts 6 historical steam locomotives, 2 wagons, 8 drezines, as well as other museum material.
1983
A series of development projects start to be delivered in the sections Oinoi-Tithorea and Domokos-Larissa, which include double track and the installation of electrical signaling.
1990
The construction of building facilities in OSE’s Professional Training Center is completed, in the area of Agios Ioannis Rentis.
1996
OSE’s subsidiary ERGA OSE S.A. is established. Its scope of work is the design and construction of new alignment and lines along the railway network.
The photo shows the Thriassio Pedio Complex (Phase Α’: construction start, 1999)
The photo shows the Thriassio Pedio Complex (Phase Α’: construction start, 1999)
1999
The first section with electrification in OSE’s network is inaugurated, on the line Thessaloniki-Eidomeni. Power is provided by an Overhead Contract System with AC 25kV at 50Hz.
