Line 3 (Athens Metro)

Line 3 of the Athens Metro is a rapid transit line that runs from Dimotiko Theatro in the west to Doukissis Plakentias or Athens Airport in the east, via Syntagma. Most Line 3 trains start or terminate at Doukissis Plakentias: a through service to the Airport leaves once every 36 minutes, and shares most of the extended route with the Athens Suburban Railway.^[6] It runs for 47.3 kilometres (29.4 mi), making it the system's longest line.

Προς Δημοτικό Θέατρο/Αεροδρόμιο To Dimotiko Theatro/Airport
Doukissis Plakentias ticket hall
Overview
Locale	Athens
Termini	Dimotiko Theatro Doukissis Plakentias/Athens Airport
Stations	27
Colour on map	Blue[a]
Website	Official website
Service
Type	Rapid transit Airport rail link
System	Athens Metro
Operator(s)	STASY
Depot(s)	Eleonas Plakentias
Rolling stock	1st, 2nd (DC and AC/DC) and 3rd Generations
History
Opened	28 January 2000 (2000-01-28)
Last extension	10 October 2022 (2022-10-10)
Technical
Line length	47.3 km (29.4 mi)[5]
Character	Deep-level
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	750 V DC third rail 25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead[b]
Route map Legend Dimotiko Theatro [ Dimarcheio] Piraeus Maniatika Nikaia Korydallos Agia Varvara Agia Marina Egaleo Eleonas Kerameikos Monastiraki Syntagma connection to Line 2 Evangelismos ( under construction ) Megaro Mousikis Ambelokipi Panormou Katehaki ( planned) Ethniki Amyna Cholargos Nomismatokopio Agia Paraskevi Chalandri Athens Suburban Railway Doukissis Plakentias[c] track south of here owned by OSE Pallini Paiania–Kantza Koropi Athens Airport Key Line 3 planned interchange Athens Suburban Railway non-passenger connector This diagram: view talk edit

Line 3 provides a direct albeit infrequent service between the Port of Piraeus with the Athens International Airport, a journey that takes up to 59 minutes.^[7] The line between Dimotiko Theatro and Doukissis Plakentias is underground, and the shared section with the Athens Suburban Railway towards the Airport is a surface-level median of the A6 and A64 motorways.

It first opened, between Ethniki Amyna and Syntagma, on 28 January 2000, with Line 2.^[8] In 2012, construction works commenced for the latest underground extension of Line 3 to Dimotiko Theatro via Piraeus which was completed on 10 October 2022.^[9][10]

Rolling stock

Dual voltage ROTEM-supplied stock with greater luggage space is used for services to Athens International Airport. Line 3 rail vehicles utilize 750 V DC third rail current collection between Dimotiko Theatro and Doukissis Plakentias, changing to 25 kV AC overhead catenary while operating on the Athens Suburban Railway for access to/from the airport.

Extensions

Extension to Piraeus

A Line 3 train approaching the northbound platform of the Nomismatokopio station

On 1 March 2012 a contract was signed between Attiko Metro S.A. and a joint venture for the construction of the extension of Line 3 from Haidari (Agia Marina) to Piraeus, 7.6 km (4.7 mi) long with six stations. The extension to Nikaia in 2020 brought the Korydallos and Nikaia municipalities into the network's catchment area, serve approximately 132,000 passengers on a daily basis and upon completion in 2022,^[11] connects to the port of Piraeus, the largest passenger port of Europe ^[12] with the Athens International Airport in just 1 hour.^[13] The completion dates of the final three stations are as follows:

• Maniatika (10 October 2022)
• Piraeus (10 October 2022)
• Dimotiko Theatro ("Municipal Theatre", 10 October 2022)

Notes

• The original plans included one more station after Dimotiko Theatro, named Evaggelistria. Attiko Metro cancelled plans for the station on 10 November 2008, due to local objections (mainly by the Metropolitan Bishop of Piraeus District).^[14]
• There were plans to build a station between Korydallos and Nikaia named Perivolaki.

Cancelled proposals

There was a plan for Line 3 to have a branch line from Panormou to Marousi: that proposal was absorbed by the U-shaped Line 4 on 1 December 2005, with Georgios Souflias (then Minister for the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works) stating that the branch line proposal would have limited the frequency of trains on either branch.^[15] The branch line was similar to what is now Phase 2 of Line 4, but it did not include OTE, and Faros was at a different location.^[16]

During the construction of the first section of Line 3, Elliniko Metro considered building stations at Geoponiki (Greek: Γεωπονική) on the extension towards Egaleo between Kerameikos and Eleonas, and Girokomeio (Γηροκομείο) on the planned Marousi branch between Panormou and Faros.^[17]

2018 timetable controversy

On 1 November 2018, STASY introduced a new timetable that scrapped direct metro services to the airport from the city center, due to the lack of spare parts for the fleet. At the time, travelers from the city center to the Airport had to change at Doukissis Plakentias. Reception towards the timetable changes was overwhelmingly negative: the negative reception included a complaint by the Transport Ministry General Secretary, Thanos Vourdas, claiming that STASY required ministerial approval to scrap the airport trains.^[18] On 9 November 2018, STASY decided to reinstate the original service pattern, from 10 November 2018.^[19]

Stations

The spelling of the station names on this table, in English and Greek, are according to the signage. Most Line 3 stations have two tracks and two side platforms: Egaleo, Ethniki Amyna, Koropi, Monastiraki, Paiania–Kantza and Pallini have two tracks and one island platform. Athens Airport has three tracks and two island platforms, but Metro trains can only use the middle track.

¤	Limited service of one train every 36 minutes[6]
†	Terminal station
#	Interchange station

Station English	Station Greek	Image	Municipality	Opened	Interchanges and notes	Position
Dimotiko Theatro †#	Δημοτικό Θέατρο		Piraeus	10 October 2022[10]	Interchange with the Athens Tram at Dimarcheio.	37.942905°N 23.647350°E / 37.942905; 23.647350 (Dimotiko Theatro)
Piraeus †#	Πειραιάς		Piraeus	10 October 2022[d][10]	Interchange with Line 1 and the Athens Suburban Railway.	37.948100°N 23.642265°E / 37.948100; 23.642265 (Piraeus)
Maniatika	Μανιάτικα		Piraeus	10 October 2022[10]		37.959545°N 23.639780°E / 37.959545; 23.639780 (Maniatika)
Nikaia	Νίκαια		Nikaia-Agios Ioannis Rentis	7 July 2020[22]		37.965745°N 23.647550°E / 37.965745; 23.647550 (Nikaia)
Korydallos	Κορυδαλλός		Korydallos	7 July 2020[22]		37.977050°N 23.650405°E / 37.977050; 23.650405 (Korydallos)
Agia Varvara	Αγία Βαρβάρα		Agia Varvara	7 July 2020[22]		37.989710°N 23.659320°E / 37.989710; 23.659320 (Agia Varvara)
Agia Marina	Αγία Μαρίνα		Agia Varvara	14 December 2013[23]		37.996860°N 23.667130°E / 37.996860; 23.667130 (Agia Marina)
Egaleo	Αιγάλεω		Aigaleo	26 May 2007[24]		37.991420°N 23.681690°E / 37.991420; 23.681690 (Egaleo)
Eleonas	Ελαιώνας		Aigaleo	26 May 2007[24]		37.987725°N 23.693375°E / 37.987725; 23.693375 (Eleonas)
Kerameikos	Κεραμεικός		Athens	26 May 2007[24]	Construction of Kerameikos was suspended in 1998 and later relocated, due to an archaeological dispute.[25]	37.978715°N 23.710940°E / 37.978715; 23.710940 (Kerameikos)
Monastiraki #	Μοναστηράκι		Athens	22 April 2003[e][26]	Interchange with Line 1. Some platform signs on Line 1 use the station's Katharevousa name, "Monastirion" (Greek: Μοναστήριον).[27]	37.976615°N 23.725905°E / 37.976615; 23.725905 (Monastiraki)
Syntagma #	Σύνταγμα		Athens	28 January 2000[8]	Interchange with Line 2 and the Athens Tram.	37.974790°N 23.735535°E / 37.974790; 23.735535 (Syntagma)
Evangelismos	Ευαγγελισμός		Athens	28 January 2000[8]		37.975900°N 23.746560°E / 37.975900; 23.746560 (Evangelismos)
Megaro Moussikis	Μέγαρο Μουσικής		Athens	28 January 2000[8]		37.979370°N 23.753515°E / 37.979370; 23.753515 (Megaro Moussikis)
Ambelokipi	Αμπελόκηποι		Athens	28 January 2000[8]		37.986945°N 23.757600°E / 37.986945; 23.757600 (Ambelokipi)
Panormou	Πανόρμου		Athens	28 January 2000[8]		37.993030°N 23.763530°E / 37.993030; 23.763530 (Panormou)
Katehaki	Κατεχάκη		Athens	28 January 2000[8]		37.993445°N 23.776965°E / 37.993445; 23.776965 (Katehaki)
Ethniki Amyna	Εθνική Άμυνα		Athens Papagou-Cholargos	28 January 2000[8]		37.999475°N 23.784810°E / 37.999475; 23.784810 (Ethniki Amyna)
Holargos	Χολαργός		Chalandri Papagou-Cholargos	23 July 2010[28]	This station opened after the extension to Chalandri.	38.004710°N 23.794355°E / 38.004710; 23.794355 (Holargos)
Nomismatokopio	Νομισματοκοπείο		Agia Paraskevi Chalandri	2 September 2009[29]	This station opened after the extension to Chalandri.	38.009425°N 23.805970°E / 38.009425; 23.805970 (Nomismatokopio)
Aghia Paraskevi	Αγία Παρασκευή		Chalandri	30 December 2010[30]	This station opened after the extension to Chalandri.	38.017380°N 23.812765°E / 38.017380; 23.812765 (Aghia Paraskevi)
Halandri	Χαλάνδρι		Chalandri	24 July 2004[31]		38.021755°N 23.821185°E / 38.021755; 23.821185 (Halandri)
Doukissis Plakentias[f] †#	Δουκίσσης Πλακεντίας		Chalandri	28 July 2004[31]	Interchange with the Athens Suburban Railway at Plakentias.	38.023965°N 23.832545°E / 38.023965; 23.832545 (Doukissis Plakentias)
Pallini ¤#	Παλλήνη		Pallini	September 2006[g]	Interchange with the Athens Suburban Railway. This station is operated by GAIAOSE.	38.005100°N 23.869825°E / 38.005100; 23.869825 (Pallini)
Paiania–Kantza ¤#	Παιανία - Κάντζα		Paiania	10 July 2006[g][32]	Interchange with the Athens Suburban Railway. This station is operated by GAIAOSE.	37.984485°N 23.870020°E / 37.984485; 23.870020 (Paiania–Kantza)
Koropi ¤#	Κορωπί		Kropia	10 July 2006[g][32]	Interchange with the Athens Suburban Railway. This station is operated by GAIAOSE.	37.912860°N 23.895860°E / 37.912860; 23.895860 (Koropi)
Athens International Airport ¤†#	Διεθνής Αερολιμένας Αθηνών		Spata-Artemida	30 July 2004[31]	Interchange with the Athens Suburban Railway. This station is operated by Athens International Airport S.A.	37.936890°N 23.944700°E / 37.936890; 23.944700 (Athens International Airport)

Notes

1. The colour of Line 3 varies: the signage, in-car line diagrams and STASY maps (since 7 October 2022) use blue,^[1][2] while Attiko Metro maps (as well as those of STASY until 7 October 2022) use sky blue.^[3][4]
2. Between Doukissis Plakentias and Athens Airport.
3. Some Line 3 trains terminate and reverse at Doukissis Plakentias.
4. The Line 1 station opened on 27 February 1869.^[20][21]
5. The Line 1 station opened on 17 May 1895.^[20]
6. Doukissis Plakentias is signed as "Plakentias" (Greek: Πλακεντίας) on the Athens Suburban Railway.
7. Pallini, Paiania–Kantza and Koropi opened on 30 July 2004, for Athens Suburban Railway trains only.