Transport in Greece

Transport in Greece has undergone significant changes in the past two decades, vastly modernizing the country's infrastructure. Although ferry transport between islands remains the prominent method of transport between the nations islands, improvements to the road infrastructure, rail, urban transport, and airports have all led to a vast improvement in transportation. These upgrades have played a key role in supporting Greece's economy, which in the past decade has come to rely heavily on the construction industry.

Rail transport

Proastiakós Rail.

Athens Metro.

Railways

Main article: Hellenic Railways Organisation

• total: 2,571 km (764 km are (or will be) electrified)
• standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge
• narrow gauge: 961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge
• dual gauge: 23 km combined 1.435 m and 1.000-m gauges (three rail system) (2004)

The state owned company that owns and maintains Greece's railway network is called OSE, while TrainOSE is the company responsible for operating all passenger and freight trains.

Metro

Cities with a rapid transit railway network:

• Athens - Athens Metro (3 lines)
• Thessaloniki - Thessaloniki Metro (1 line) (Under construction)

Commuter Rail

Cities with a commuter rail network (Proastiakos):

• Athens (3 lines - officially 2 lines, since Athens-Chalkida line is not currently considered as a Proastiakos commuter rail line.)
• Thessaloniki (2 lines)
• Patras (1 line)

Tram

Cities with a Light rail - Tram network:

• Athens - Athens Tram

See also: Trams in Europe

Road transport

A2 (Egnatia Odos) motorway.

A2 (Egnatia Odos) motorway.

A7 (Moreas) motorway.

Attiki Odos motorway.

Highways

Main article: Highways in Greece

• As of 2010, Greece has 1600 km of motorways, while by 2015 it is estimated it will have a total of 2800 km

Roads:

• total: 117,000 km
• paved: 107,406 km
• unpaved: 9,594 km (1996 est.)
• over 2500 underground tunnels (est.)

Bus transport

A Bus in Athens.

Urban bus transport

• OASTH organizes mass bus transit in Thessaloniki.
• ETHEL organizes mass bus transit in Athens.
• ILPAP organizes mass trolleybus transit in Athens.

There are also many companies named Astiko KTEL, which organize mass bus transit in many cities of Greece.

Intercity and regional bus transport

KTEL is the common name for every company which is responsible for intercity and regional bus transit. Each prefecture, though, has its own regional network of buses, but they are named as "KTEL" and the name of the prefecture (now peripheral unit). (e.g. KTEL Nomou Argolidas).

Water transport

Waterways

The 80 km system consists of three coastal canals including the Corinth Canal (6 km) and three unconnected rivers. The Corinth Canal crosses the Isthmus of Corinth, connecting the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf; and shortens the sea voyage from the Adriatic to Peiraiefs (Piraeus) by 325 km.

Ports and harbours

• Alexandroupoli
• Elefsina
• Irakleio, Crete
• Kavala
• Kerkyra
• Chalkis
• Igoumenitsa
• Lavrio
• Patras
• Piraeus
• Thessaloniki
• Volos
• Mytilene
• Rhodes

Merchant Marine

• total: 3338 ships (with a volume of 1,000 GRT or over) totaling 109,377,819 GRT/182,540,868 t DWT[1]
• ships by type (1999 est.)

• bulk carrier: 273
• cargo ship: 60
• chemical tanker: 22
• combination bulk: 5
• combination ore/oil: 8
• container ship: 43
• Liquified Gas Carrier: 5
• multi-functional large load carrier: 1
• passenger ship: 12
• passenger/cargo: 2
• petroleum tanker: 245
• refrigerated cargo: 3
• roll-on/roll-off ship: 19
• short-sea passenger: 75
• specialized tanker: 4
• vehicle carrier: 2

Airports

Main article: List of airports in Greece

• total: 82 (2005)
• With paved runways: 67

• over 3,047 m: 5
• 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16
• 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
• 914 to 1,523 m: 17

under 914 m: 10 (2005)

• With unpaved runways: 15

• 914 to 1,523 m: 3
• under 914 m: 12 (2005)

• heliports: 8 (2005)

Pipelines

• crude oil: 26 km
• petroleum products: 547 km

References

•  This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook. CIA.

See also

• Greece

External links

www.Greek-Motorway.Net

• The Hellenic Merchant Maritime Sector: A Historical and Business Overview (Balkanalysis.com)