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 2029 or 2030.[3]
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, Exarheia, Kolonaki, Kaisariani and Zografou.[4]
In the distant future, it will be extended further north to Ethniki Odos 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).[5]
On 1 December 2005, 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.[6] 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.[6][7]
Controversies
There has been significant opposition to a metro station at Exarcheia Square, in a neighborhood known for its radical political and intellectual activism.[8] 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.[9][10] Regardless of the protests, construction of the metro station has resumed since the protests ended.
Future extensions
In March 2017, Elliniko Metro (the infrastructure manager of the Athens Metro) split the implementation of Line 4 into five phases, of which Phase A is now under construction: proposals for Phases 3, 4 and 5 first appeared in the Souflias plan in April 2009.[11][12]
If Elliniko Metro builds all sections as planned, the line will be about 38.2 km (23.7 mi) long, with 35 stations:[2] 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 3, as of November 2021[update], may consist of a branch from Evangelismos to the new Government Park near Dafni,[14] with intermediate stations at Pangrati and Vyronas: Elliniko Metro previously planned to build the terminus at Ano Ilioupoli.[2][15]
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.[14] 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.[16][17]
Phase 4
Phase 4 may consist of a 7.5 km (4.7 mi) line from Alsos Veikou to Petroupoli,[2] 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).[15] 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.[13]
Phase 5
Phase 5 may consist of a 4.4 km (2.7 mi) line from Marousi to the A1 motorway (National Road),[2] with intermediate stations at Pefki and Lykovrysi.[15] However, the September 2022 Athens Metro Development Plan has Line 1 serving the National Road at Varympompi Junction, with Line 4 terminating at Lykovrysi.[13]
Stations
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.[18]
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.[21] In 16 December 2017,[22] 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).[23]
^"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.
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