Line 4 (Athens Metro)

Προς Άλσος Βεΐκου/Γουδή To Alsos Veikou/Goudi
Construction site at the TBM's entrance shaft in Katechaki, March 2023
Overview
Status	Under construction
Locale	Athens
Termini	Alsos Veikou Goudi
Stations	15
Colour on map	Orange
Website	Official website
Service
Type	Rapid transit
System	Athens Metro
Operator(s)	STASY
Depot(s)	Sepolia Katehaki
Rolling stock	Alstom Metropolis[1]
Daily ridership	530,000 (estimated)^[citation needed]
History
Commenced	22 June 2021 (2021-06-22)
Planned opening	2030 (2030)[2]
Technical
Line length	12.8 km (8.0 mi)[3]
Character	Deep-level
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	750 V DC third rail
Route map Planned phase D Petroupoli* Ilion* Pyrgos Vasilissis* Nea Filadelfia* Pefkakia* Nea Ionia* Alsos Veikou** Galatsi** Elikonos** Kypseli** Dikastiria** Alexandras** Exarcheia** Akadimia** [ Panepistimio] Connection with Kolonaki** Evangelismos** Future branch of Pangrati* Vyronas* New Government Park* Kaisariani** Panepistimioupoli** Ilisia** Zografou** Goudi** Planned phase B/E Katehaki* Faros* Filothei* Sidera* Olympic Stadium* Paradissos* [ Kifisias] OTE* Marousi* Pefki* Lykovrysi* Key Line 4 (under construction) Line 5 (planned) non-passenger connector (*) Planned     (**) Under construction This diagram: view talk edit

Line 4 of the Athens Metro is a future line that will run from Alsos Veikou to Goudi. Construction of the line started in mid to late-2021 and is scheduled to be completed in 2030.^[2][4]

Line 4 had been under consideration for many years. Its exact route was changed multiple times. One of the most famous routes was the U-shaped line from Perissos to Katechaki (which are current stations of lines 1 and 3 respectively), including a branch to Vyronas. However, the route from Alsos Veikou to Goudi was chosen, as it has the benefit of being the one passing from the densely populated areas of central Athens, such as Galatsi, Exarcheia, Kolonaki, Kaisariani and Zografou.^[5]

In the distant future, it will be extended further north to Lykovrysi and to other important suburbs of Athens, like Marousi.

Development history

Plans for Line 4 of the Athens originated from the Metro Development Study for the period between 1996 and 2000, which proposed branch lines for Lines 2 and 3. The Line 2 branch would have run between Panepistimio and Alsos Veikou, with intermediate stations at Exarcheia, Alexandras, Dikastiria, Kypseli, and Galatsi. The Line 3 branch would have run between Panormou and Marousi, with intermediate stations at Faros, Filothei, Sidera, OAKA (Athens Olympic Sports Complex), and Paradissos (for Suburban Railway trains at Kifisias).^[6]

On 1 December 2005, after the original plan for 2 branches was scrapped, Georgios Souflias, then the Minister of the Environment, Urban Planning and Public Works, announced that the two branches would combine to form the U-shaped Line 4. Souflias stated that the original branches, if built, would have caused "significant structural and operational weaknesses" for Lines 2 and 3.^[7] The original proposal for Line 4 is similar to what is currently proposed between Alsos Veikou and Marousi (without the Line 5 branch), but it did not include stations at Elikonos, Panepistimioupoli, and OTE.^[7][8]

Originally, Phase 4 of the Line 4 was going to have an interchange station with Line 1 at Perissos, but in late 2020 it was found that there were important reasons, technical, construction and transport service, for choosing a different interchange station. So, Phase 4 was changed to have the interchange station be Pefkakia.

In September 2014, it was announced that a second station would be added to Kaisariani, named "Near East", after the local team of the same name of the Kaisariani Public Gymnasium (Near East Foundation - NEF), as it had been chosen to be built next to the team's stadium, but in late December 2017 to early January 2018, Attiko Metro decided to move Near East station to the Zografou Campus and then renamed it "Panepsitimioupoli". At the same time, also in late December 2017, Attiko Metro announced the addition of a new station at the intersection of Parnithos and Agias Glykerias streets in Galatsi. The station's initial name was "Parnithos", but it was later changed to "Elikonos". Elikonos station takes its name from the Elikonas hill located next to the station. Also, Elikonos station will be the deepest on line 4, at a depth of 36.4 meters, with Ilisia station being the second deepest, at 34.7 meters.

Regarding Exarchia station, an alternative location at the intersection of Tositsa and Bouboulinas streets was considered, but did not proceed. Construction of the station began as usual at Exarchia Square in August 2022.

Controversies

There has been significant opposition to a metro station at Exarcheia Square, in a neighborhood known for its radical political and intellectual activism.^[9] Some local residents have even gone to protest against the building of a metro station at Exarcheia Square, as they claim that the square has historic value to the community. Locals claim that the "station is part of gentrification scheme aimed at altering historically leftwing and anarchist area". 16 people were detained as a result of these protests.^[10][11] Regardless of the protests, construction of the metro station has resumed since the protests ended.

Phases of construction for Line 4

In March 2017, Elliniko Metro (the infrastructure manager of the Athens Metro) split the implementation of Line 4 into five phases, of which Phase 1 is now under construction: proposals for Phases 3, 4 and 5 first appeared in the Souflias plan in April 2009.^[12][13]

If Elliniko Metro builds all sections as planned, the line will be about 38.2 km (23.7 mi) long, with 35 stations:^[3] However, the expected length of the completed project may change due to the ongoing review of the alignment of Phases 3, 4 and 5.

Phase 1 (Alsos Veikou - Goudi)

The first phase includes the route from Alsos Veikou to Goudi, with a length of 12.8 km and 15 stations.

The construction budget of the project amounts to 1.2 billion euros, of which the European Investment Bank will allocate 800 million, while the remaining amount will be paid from the new NSRF and national funds. The depot of Line 4 is planned in Katechaki and Sepolia, as Alsos Veikou was rejected due to the forest area, while in the future, after the final extension, the depot will be relocated to Lykovrysi (at the height of the Holy Monastery of Saint Irene Chrysovalantou).

The stations of the section of Line 4 under construction are:

†	Terminal station
#	Interchange station

Station English	Station Greek	Image	Municipality	Opening[14]	Interchanges and notes	Position
Alsos Veikou ^†	Άλσος Βεΐκου	—	Galatsi	2030	The station was previously known as "Tralleon" (Greek: Τράλλεων) until November 2005.[7][15]
Galatsi	Γαλάτσι					38.012680°N 23.753030°E / 38.012680; 23.753030 (Galatsi)
Elikonos	Ελικώνος				Elikonos was a late addition to the first stage of Line 4: the residents of the area petitioned Elliniko Metro to add a second station in Kypseli, because of the long distance between Galatsi and Kypseli. Elliniko Metro struggled to find an appropriate location for the extra station because they feared that the elevation of the platforms would be around 50 metres (160 feet) deep.[16] In 16 December 2017,[17] Elliniko Metro agreed to build Elikonos: according to the April 2018 technical drawing, the station will still be one of the deepest on the Metro, at around 35 metres (115 feet).[18]	38.008720°N 23.745575°E / 38.008720; 23.745575 (Elikonos)
Kypseli	Κυψέλη		Athens			38.002505°N 23.741670°E / 38.002505; 23.741670 (Kypseli)
Dikastiria	Δικαστήρια					37.995560°N 23.741075°E / 37.995560; 23.741075 (Dikastiria)
Alexandras	Αλεξάνδρας					37.990125°N 23.740040°E / 37.990125; 23.740040 (Alexandras)
Exarchia	Εξάρχεια					37.986450°N 23.734880°E / 37.986450; 23.734880 (Exarchia)
Akademia ^#	Ακαδημία				Interchange with Line 2 at Panepistimio. (Akademia and Panepistimio are NOT the same station)	37.980800°N 23.734795°E / 37.980800; 23.734795 (Akademia)
Kolonaki	Κολωνάκι					37.976790°N 23.740655°E / 37.976790; 23.740655 (Kolonaki)
Evangelismos ^#	Ευαγγελισμός				Interchange with Line 3. As of May 2023^[update], this is the only station where construction works have not yet started.	37.975245°N 23.746370°E / 37.975245; 23.746370 (Evangelismos)
Kessariani	Καισαριανή		Kaisariani			37.969000°N 23.754780°E / 37.969000; 23.754780 (Kessariani)
Panepistimioupoli	Πανεπιστημιούπολη				Panepistimioupoli was originally proposed in 2014 as "Near East" (Greek: Νήαρ Ήστ), at a different location.[19]	37.968955°N 23.764900°E / 37.968955; 23.764900 (Panepistimioupoli)
Ilissia	Ιλίσια		Zografou			37.973025°N 23.768725°E / 37.973025; 23.768725 (Ilissia)
Zografou	Ζωγράφου					37.977120°N 23.771030°E / 37.977120; 23.771030 (Zografou)
Goudi ^†	Γουδή					37.982040°N 23.769945°E / 37.982040; 23.769945 (Goudi)

The spelling of the station names on this table, in English and Greek, are according to Elliniko Metro. All confirmed stations are underground, and have a layout of two tracks and two side platforms.^[20]

Phase 2 (Goudi–Marousi)

Phase 2 may consist of a 9.6 km (6.0 mi) line from Goudi to Line 1 at Marousi,^[3] with intermediate stations at Katechaki (for Line 3), Faros, Filothei, Sidera, Olympic Stadium, Paradissos (for Suburban Railway trains at Kifisias), and OTE.^[21]

Stations on Phase 2 of Line 4

Station	Municipality	Interchanges and notes
Katechaki	Athens	Interchange with Line 3.
Faros	Filothei-Psychiko
Filothei
Sidera	Chalandri
Olympic Stadium	Marousi
Paradissos		Interchange with the Athens Suburban Railway at Kifisias.
OTE
Marousi		Interchange with Line 1.

Phase 3 (Evangelismos–New Government Park)

Planned Line 5
towards Alsos Veikou Akadimia [ Panepistimio] Connection with Kolonaki Evangelismos towards Goudi Pangrati Vyronas New Government Park Towards Kalamaki

Phase 3, as of November 2021^[update], may consist of a branch from Evangelismos to the new Government Park near Dafni,^[22] with intermediate stations at Pangrati and Vyronas: Elliniko Metro previously planned to build the terminus at Ano Ilioupoli.^[3][23]

The extension may form part of Line 5, with trains initially terminating at Akadimia. Elliniko Metro also announced the possibility of a further southern extension from Dafni towards Kalamaki.^[22] A western extension of Line 5 from Akadimia to Koumoundourou Square was also briefly considered in 2014: the alignment of the first phase of Line 4 allows for the construction of such extension.^[24][25]

Stations on Phase 3 of Line 4

Station	Municipality	Interchanges and notes
Pangrati	Athens
Vyronas	Vyronas
New Government Park	Dafni-Ymittos	Interchange with Line 2 at Dafni.

Phase 4 (Alsos Veikou–Petroupoli)

Phase 4 may consist of a 7.5 km (4.7 mi) line from Alsos Veikou to Petroupoli,^[3] with intermediate stations at Plateia Igias in Nea Ionia, Perissos (for Line 1), Nea Filadelfeia, Pyrgos Vasilissis (for Suburban Railway trains), and Ilion (for Line 2).^[23] However, the September 2022 Athens Metro Development Plan reroutes Line 4 via Pefkakia instead of Perissos, resulting in the relocation of the station for Nea Filadelfeia.^[21]

Stations on Phase 4 of Line 4

Station	Municipality	Interchanges and notes
Nea Ionia	Nea Ionia	Nea Ionia station of Line 4 is NOT the same station as the Line 1 station. The Line 4 station will be south of the Line 1 station at Plateia Agias
Pefkakia		Interchange with Line 1.
Nea Filadelfeia	Nea Filadelfeia-Nea Chalkidona
Pyrgos Vasilissis	Agioi Anargyroi-Kamatero	Interchange with the Athens Suburban Railway.
Ilion	Ilion	Interchange with Line 2.
Petroupoli	Petroupoli

Phase 5 (Marousi–Lykovrysi)

Phase 5 may consist of a 4.4 km (2.7 mi) line from Marousi to the A1 motorway (National Road),^[3] with intermediate stations at Pefki and Lykovrysi.^[23] However, the September 2022 Athens Metro Development Plan has Line 1 serving the National Road at Varympompi Junction, with Line 4 terminating at Lykovrysi.^[21]

Stations on Phase 5 of Line 4

Station	Municipality	Interchanges and notes
Lykovrysi	Lykovrysi-Pefki
Pefki

Progress

The following table lists the progress into construction so far of each station of line 4.^[26][27][28]

Stations		Prelimenary Works			Major Works
		Station Occupation	Bypass networks O.C.B*	Archeological Works	Station Construction	Opening with ΤΒΜ Niki[29]/Athina
1	Alsos Veikou	✔	✔	✔	pending	✔[30]
2	Galatsi	✔	✔	✔	pending	Late 2024[31][32]
3	Elikonos	✔	✔	✔	pending
4	Kypseli	✔	✔	✔	pending
5	Dikastiria	✔	✔	✔	pending
6	Alexandras	✔	✔	✔	pending
7	Exarcheia	✔	✔	✔
8	Akadimia	✔	✔	✔	pending
9	Kolonaki	✔	✔	✔	pending
10	Evaggelismos					June 2026[33]/late 2025[34]
11	Kaisariani	✔	✔	✔	pending	2025
12	Panepistimioupoli	✔	pending	pending		2025
13	Ilisia	✔	✔	✔	pending	2025
14	Zografou	✔	pending	pending		✔[35]
15	Goudi	✔	pending	pending		✔[36][37]

*Organisation of common benefit

Notes

References

1. Miller, Samuel; Collet, Coralie (5 November 2020). "Alstom consortium selected for first section of Athens Metro Line 4". Alstom. Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
2. athenstransport (2023-11-16). "Ν. Ταχιάος: Ένα έτος καθυστέρησης ήδη στη γραμμή 4 του Μετρό, 50 εκατ. ευρώ θα κόστιζε η μετακίνηση ενός σταθμού". Athens Transport (in Greek). Retrieved 2024-09-06.
3. "General description of Line 4". Attiko Metro. Athens. 4 October 2022. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
4. "Μετρό-Γραμμή 4: Ξεκινούν τα έργα - Οι 15 σταθμοί από Γαλάτσι έως Γουδί - Έτοιμο σε 8 χρόνια". www.naftemporiki.gr (in Greek). 2021-06-22. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
5. "Νέα Γραμμή 4 Μετρό Αθήνας: Η ταυτότητα του τμήματος ΑΛΣΟΣ ΒΕΪΚΟΥ-ΓΟΥΔΗ και οι θέσεις των σταθμών". www.ypodomes.com. Archived from the original on 2014-10-07.
6. "Development Plan for Metro Lines and Other Railway Lines" (PDF). Attiko Metro (in Greek). Athens. 15 October 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 November 2004. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
7. Souflias, Georgios (1 December 2005). "The New Extensions of the Athens Metro". Attiko Metro. Athens. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
8. "Map (untitled)". Attiko Metro. Athens. 23 December 2005. Archived from the original on 23 December 2005. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
9. Smith, Helena (17 August 2022). "Residents of Athens' historic Exarchia Square resist metro station plan". Manchester. The Guardian. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
10. Smith, Helena (2022-08-17). "Residents of Athens' historic Exarchia Square resist metro station plan". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
11. Bureau, Athens (2022-11-06). "Exarcheia: 16 People Detained During Anti-metro Protests". Retrieved 2023-05-01. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
12. "General description of Line 4". Attiko Metro (in Greek). Athens. 3 May 2017. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
13. "New Regulatory Plan for Athens and Attica Prefecture". Attiko Metro. Athens. 13 April 2009. Archived from the original on 28 May 2009. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
14. "Tendering". Attiko Metro. Athens. 6 September 2018. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
15. "Map". Attiko Metro (in Greek). Athens. 28 February 2005. Archived from the original on 28 February 2005. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
16. "Second metro station in Kypseli is official – Near East station changes location". Athens Transport (in Greek). 28 December 2017. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
17. ΗΜΕΡΙΔΑ 16/12/2017 για τις Δημόσιες Αστικές Συγκοινωνίες ΦΥΛΛΑΔΙΟ ΕΚΑ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΗΜΕΡΙΔΑ
18. "Elikonos - Section A-A" (PDF). Attiko Metro (in Greek and English). Athens. 24 April 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 November 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
19. "14 stations of Metro Line 4 by 2022". Athens Transport (in Greek). 25 September 2014. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
20. "Stations". Attiko Metro. Athens. 21 October 2022. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
21. "Athens Metro Lines Development Plan" (PDF). Attiko Metro. Athens. September 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
22. Karagiannis, Nikos (22 November 2021). "New Metro line 5: from Evangelismos to Southern Suburbs". ypodomes.com (in Greek). Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
23. "Athens Metro Lines Development Plan" (PDF). Attiko Metro. Athens. July 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
24. Anastasaki, Anna (June–August 2014). "Transport in Attica, Horizon 2024: the role of Attiko Metro S.A." (PDF). Newsletter (in Greek) (190). Athens: Hellenic Institute of Transportation Engineers: 11. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
25. "Track Alignment (Horizontal)" (PDF). Elliniko Metro (in Greek). Athens. 26 June 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
26. "Ψηφιακό Ενημερωτικό Δελτίο Γραμμής 4 – Τμήματος Α".
27. "Πρόοδος έργου Γραμμής 4 - Φωτογραφίες".
28. "Ρωμοσιός κατά Μιτζάλη για τα εργοτάξια της Γραμμής 4 - Mononews.gr". Αποκαλυπτικό ρεπορτάζ, αρθρογραφία και άμεση ενημέρωση, με όλα τα τελευταία νέα και ειδήσεις για την Οικονομία, τις Επιχειρήσεις, το Χρηματιστήριο, το Bitcoin, τις πολιτικές εξελίξεις και τον πολιτισμό (in Greek). 2024-06-18. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
29. Έναρξη 19/2/2024
30. [1]
31. Eνημέρωση της Ελληνικό Μετρό στον Δήμο Γαλατσίου σε διαδικτυακή συνάντηση στις 4/3/2024
32. Δια ζώσης – γράφει ο Βασίλης Γιαννακόπουλος εφημερίδα Παλμός
33. Μετρό Αθήνας – Νέα Γραμμή 4: έτοιμο το 1ο χιλιόμετρο της σήραγγας από Κατεχάκη.
34. Γραμμή 4 του μετρό «Άλσος Βεΐκου-Γουδή»: Προχωρά η υπόγεια διαδρομή που ξεκίνησε από την Κατεχάκη.
35. Μετρό Αθήνας – Γραμμή 4: το Πάσχα στο σταθμό ΓΟΥΔΗ ο Μετροπόντικας – Πως προχωρά το εντυπωσιακό έργο
36. Μετρό Αθήνας – Νέα Γραμμή 4: επόμενος σταθμός ΖΩΓΡΑΦΟΥ – Ο Μετροπόντικας πέρασε από ΓΟΥΔΗ
37. Φεβρουάριος 2024: πέρασμα από Φρέαρ Δικαιοσύνης, κατεύθυνση προς σταθμό Γουδή

External links

• Athens Metro official website