INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

HELLENIC RAILWAYS (OSE) has undertaken an investment programme aiming at fully upgrading its services and modernizing its network. Large projects, such as the construction of high speed railway lines (over 200 km/h), the creation of railway network connections with ports and industrial areas and the development of a suburban railway network are some of the core investment activities of the Organisation, financed by both European Union structural funds and OSE funds.

On account of the works that are already taken place through the network, the travelling time between Athens and Thessaloniki has been significantly reduced since 2001 from 6 hours to 4 hours and a quarter today. Hopefully, by the end of 2008, the PATHE axis: Patras - Athens - Thessaloniki - Eidomeni will be ready with double, normal-gauge, electrified line under signalisation and modern railway technologies. Consequently, the travelling times of all the itineraries will be greatly shortened and new opportunities will appear for the people living at the regional towns of Greece.

Additionally, the remaining regional network is being reconstructed - Western Macedonia, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. Also, works are being realised in the network of Peloponnesus (South Greece), in Patra - Kalamata - Corinth section with the perpendicular connections.

Suburban Railway

The launch of the Suburban Railway constituted a great success for Hellenic Railways's group of companies. The Suburban Railway is operating since July 30th 2004 and connects the centre of Athens (Athens Railway Station - Larisis) with the airport "Elefterios Venizelos" (duration 41 minutes). Since September 2005 it has been extended to Corinthos (Corinthos - Athens centre 55 minutes). It is a project, which contributes greatly to the traffic decongestion and to the upgrading of the quality of life of the citizens in the wider area of Athens. The project is expected to be completed by 2010 - it will be extended in a length of 281 kilometres, towards Thiba, Kiato, Rafina and Chalkida - and it is estimated to serve 420.000 passengers at a daily basis.

Link with the harbours

The plans of HELLENIC RAILWAYS also include the improvement of the railway line connection to Thessaloniki port, as well as the connection of the line to Ikonio, Patra and Alexandroupolis harbours.

There is also scheduled the project of public services obligation - the contracts between Hellenic Railways and the Greek state for the funding of several itineraries to remote areas, necessary for some social groups but unpractical for the company - in order to be ensured competitive market conditions among the means of transport in equal terms.

ENVIRONMENT

Trains are considered to be the friendliest to the environment means of mass transport contributing to the solution of the traffic issues in large urban centres and improving citizens' quality of life. OSE intends to proceed with the development of the suburban lines in other cities as well - bringing the cities close together and changing their profiles economically and socially. Consequently, more opportunities for the development of smaller cities will appear, providing the necessary conditions for a regional and sustainable development.

Furthermore, recent studies have proved that rail transport has the lowest environmental impact since it has the lowest contribution to noise, air pollution and climate change compared to the other means of transport. Moreover, rail transport is the less energy consuming means of transport. Hellenic Railways promotes the environmental aspects of rail transport by supporting activities related to environmental protection and adapting a policy according to EU environmental directives.

SERVICES

OSE is currently upgrading the services provided with the functional upgrading of wagons, of the railway stations and of the surrounding to the railway stations areas for passengers' gain.

Moreover, there are special offers for special groups of passengers such as the elderly, the students, the disabled and the frequent users of the railway network. Furthermore, call centre services, the telephone reservation services and tickets delivery at home, are also available while e-services are already planned - the contract for the e-ticketing system has already been signed and it is going to take effect soon.

GREECE - A REGIONAL TRANSPORT HUB:

ISTANBUL

The train "FILIA (FRIENDSHIP) - DOSTLUK EXPRESS" composed of highly comfortable air conditioned coaches (sleeping cars) directly connects Thessalonica and Istanbul from the 8th of July of 2005.
The passengers travel in ease and comfort. The total travelling time is, at the moment, 11 hours and 30 minutes instead of 14 hours and 30 minutes that was until recently, with the transhipment at the Pithio border railway station. The tickets' prices are really competitive and the journey is very enjoyable.

SOFIA

Two new pairs of "quality trains" between Thessalonica - Sofia and a night sleeping car between Athens - Sofia are also been routed. These trains provide passengers a comfortable travel abroad, in a first and second class seat with modern wagons of high comfort at competitive prices. Special offers exist for students and small groups of 2 - 5 persons. The total duration of the journey, is five (5) hours and forty - five (45) minutes, instead of seven hours (7) and thirty - six (36) minutes, which was until recently.
The trains that are routed on the basis of the implementation of the recent agreements between the Minister of Transport and Communications of Greece, Mr. Michalis Liapis and his Turkish and Bulgarian counterparts, symbolizing the continuing upgrading of the collaboration between the countries and the constant friendship between people, are expected to contribute considerably to the economic development of the involved countries.

TRANS EUROPEAN NETWORK

One major project that has been approved by the EU and is currently being studied is the Western Railway Corridor which includes the completion of the railway "EGNATIA" by interconnecting Western Greece with the existing network. It has been included in the Trans-European Networks (???). The Western Railway Corridor is based upon the interoperability rules applied in the EU. The completion of the project, which is planned for 2014, will radically change the view of both railway and transport in Greece, elevating them to the current status of the EU member states, thus ensuring financial benefits.

INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES

The Greek railway company has undertaken the presidency of the Group of Railway companies of South-Eastern Europe for the period of 2006-2007, aiming at the creation of a high standards railway network at the countries of South-Eastern Europe, by satisfying citizens' and companies' needs for quick, safe, comfortable passengers and freight transports. During the Greek presidency the improvement of the cooperation between South-Eastern Europe's countries will be strengthened according to the position of Hellenic Government, as expressed by the Greek Minister of Transport and Communications Mr. Michalis Liapis.
OSE develops its activities in effective collaboration with neighbouring countries. Projects are already in progress for the improvement of the alignment of the different countries infrastructures, which allow maximum speeds, elimination of the gauge restrictions as well as installation of remote control, signalling systems and electrification of the line.

STRUCTURAL CHANGES

At the moment Hellenic Railways is at a reengineering process. More precisely the infrastructure is separated from the operation according to the presidential decree 41/07-03-2005 and two new subsidiaries, EDISY and TRAINOSE, are founded. The organizational scheme includes the creation of a powerful group of companies, with 4 subsidiaries and with the parent company as dominant among them.

EDISY will conduct the management of the railway infrastructure and it will be responsible for its maintenance and its investments' management. TRAINOSE will provide railway transport services and it will be responsible for the development and operation of urban, suburban, peripheral, long-distance and international railway transports of passengers and freight. It will also be responsible for the combined transports of passengers and freight as well as for the buses.

Through the separation, it is expected transparency regarding the expenses' sources (infrastructure - operation) and a more accurate activity based costing. The main objective is to minimize the deficit and to balance the cost of social services with the collected revenues from the services provided.
Generally speaking, OSE's goal is to provide passengers with high quality services; to strengthen their loyalty and satisfaction through innovating services. Its basic priority is to increase the revenues and minimize the costs in order to achieve financial efficiency.