The History of the Greek Railways

Through rich photographic and archival material, we travel back in time, on Railway from Athens to Piraeus (SAP), which was the first railway in Greece.

We follow the Attica Railways through time, from their glorious days with the amazing “Beast of Kifissia”, up to the decline of the network.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the city of Thessaloniki is linked to Istanbul, to the Balkans and to Europe, through three different railway lines.

We learn about telecommunications rail networks and their importance for rail travel.

Follow us on a journey through enchanting landscapes filled with colours and history, as we travel along the Ottoman networks of the Connecting Railway and the Eastern Railways.

Two different routes. Two different railway networks. Two different railway companies. Two different railway destinations in Gevgeli and Monastiri. A common starting point. Thessaloniki.

Such a long distance is now covered by train in just 4 hours, forming one of the most important transport routes in Greece.

The liberation of Thessaly from the Ottoman rule will prove a fertile ground for the development of both rich agriculture in the region and an extensive commercial network.

Due to the rapid growth in the Peloponnese region, the need for the development of a land-based means for the speedy and mass transport of products becomes evident.

The network of the Piraeus-Athens-Peloponnese Railways had already begun to spread in the early 1880s.

We learn about the crucial role played by the Greek railway networks in warfare.

As Germans, Italians and Bulgarians invade Greece, the Greek railways fall into the hands of the enemy.