Athens' tramway System, Greece

The construction of the Athens tram system is part of the program to modernize the city's transport infrastructure, developed for the 2004 Olympic Games. The network extends for approximately 27 km, from Syntagma Square to Palaio Faliro, where it is divided into two sections: one along the coast through Voula, and the other towards Piraeus. The line includes 48 stops, with Syntagma, SEF and Asklipiio Voulas as the termini.

Preliminary studies have identified the Piraeus-Glyfada coastal route as a priority, with interconnections to Metro Line 1 in Piraeus and the future extension of Line 2 to Glyfada. The route extends for another 8 km to connect the center of Athens. The project also includes 2.2 km of double track line on ballast connecting to the depot.

The "turnkey" contract included the executive design, the construction of the civil works, the supply, installation and commissioning of the mechanical, electrical and railway systems. Furthermore, 14 substations were built online and in the depot with maintenance scheduled for three years.

The main challenge of the project was the construction in an urban area with intense pedestrian and vehicular traffic and numerous underground services. The tram system, which serves approximately 65,000 people per day, went into service in July 2004, shortly before the start of the Olympic Games.