Greece’s national rail operator, Hellenic Train, is entering its most transformative phase in decades, rolling out a multibillion-euro wave of investments in new trains, digital systems and upgraded infrastructure that government officials and industry observers say will sharply cut travel times and reshape the country’s tourism flows.

Anchored by a landmark order for new electric trains and backed by a revised public service contract with stricter performance rules, the program is designed to make rail a faster, safer and more attractive option for both domestic travelers and international visitors exploring Greece beyond its airports and ferry ports.

More News

A Record Train Order Signals a New Era for Greek Rail

In December 2025 Hellenic Train signed a contract with Alstom for the purchase of 23 new Coradia Stream electric trains, in what the company describes as the largest private investment ever made in Greece’s land transport sector. Valued at 308 million euros and fully financed by the operator, the procurement is the centerpiece of a wider 420 million euro investment framework agreed between the Greek state and Hellenic Train’s Italian parent group, Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane. Officials note that it is the first major new rolling stock order for the country’s railways since before the 2004 Olympic Games, underscoring how overdue the renewal is.

The new trains are designed for both intercity and suburban services and will gradually replace or supplement older vehicles that have long been criticized by passengers for outdated interiors and inconsistent reliability. Twelve of the units are earmarked for the crucial Athens to Thessaloniki axis, while the remaining eleven will serve suburban lines around Athens and Thessaloniki, the country’s two largest metropolitan areas. Hellenic Train executives say the deployment strategy is intended to deliver visible improvements first on the busiest domestic and tourist corridors, where demand has rebounded strongly since the pandemic.

Each intercity train will offer capacity for about 335 passengers, while suburban units will carry up to 362, allowing the operator to increase frequencies over time on routes that have often been constrained by limited rolling stock. The Coradia Stream platform is already in operation in several European markets, which was a key factor in the selection, according to transport officials familiar with the negotiations. The first deliveries are scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2027, with a ten-year technical support program included in the contract to ensure long-term reliability and maintenance expertise.

Infrastructure Upgrades Aim to Cut Athens–Thessaloniki Journey Below 3.5 Hours

The rolling stock renewal is being coordinated with a parallel program of infrastructure works on the main north south corridor between Athens and Thessaloniki, a roughly 500-kilometer line that carries much of the country’s long-distance traffic. The Hellenic Railways Organization, OSE, is currently overseeing extensive upgrades to signaling, remote control and automatic braking systems, with the government targeting full operational capability for modern safety and control systems by the summer of 2026. That includes the deployment of the European Train Control System and centralized traffic management along key stretches of the route.

Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Konstantinos Kyranakis has said that once the works are complete and the new trains are in service, end-to-end travel time between the capital and Thessaloniki is expected to fall below three and a half hours, down from travel times that can still exceed four hours on many services today. Officials and tourism businesses view that sub 3.5-hour threshold as strategically important, potentially tipping more travelers away from short-haul flights or long highway drives and toward rail as the default mode for intercity journeys.

In the medium term, Greek and European planning documents envisage sections of the corridor capable of even higher operating speeds, dovetailing with broader European Union ambitions for a more integrated high-speed rail network. While Greece’s current modernization program does not immediately put the Athens–Thessaloniki line into the same category as the continent’s fastest routes, transport analysts note that turning the country’s busiest domestic rail link into a consistently fast and reliable service is an essential step toward that longer-term vision.

Contract Reform Brings Stricter Rules, Digital Oversight and Passenger Guarantees

The new trains and infrastructure are being delivered under a revised public service contract between the Greek state and Hellenic Train, approved by parliament in January 2026. The agreement secures a total of 420 million euros in private-sector investment and introduces what officials describe as much tougher accountability mechanisms, including a binding 2027 deadline for the new trains to be delivered and placed into service. For the first time, the contract includes a termination clause that allows the state to cancel the deal if the rolling stock is not operational by that date.

Penalty regimes for service delays, disruptions and maintenance shortfalls have also been tightened, and passenger compensation for major service failures is set to double. The changes reflect political and public pressure for tangible improvements following the 2023 Tempe rail disaster, which triggered demands for a safer and more transparent rail system. Government representatives have argued that the revised contract shifts the focus from vague commitments to concrete deliverables, with clear financial consequences if targets are not met.

A central feature of the overhaul is the rollout of a new real-time digital monitoring system that will replace the largely paper-based processes previously used to track services. Using geolocation and centralized data platforms, authorities will be able to monitor train movements across the network, link performance directly to payments, and more effectively audit punctuality and safety compliance. For passengers, this should translate into more accurate information on train status, better disruption management and a stronger basis for claims when things go wrong.

Modern Trains Designed With Tourists and Everyday Travelers in Mind

Beyond headline numbers on investment and travel times, the new Coradia Stream trains are being marketed as a step change in comfort and accessibility. The units feature low-floor, step-free boarding across all doors, which is expected to significantly improve access for passengers with reduced mobility, travelers with strollers and tourists carrying large suitcases. Dedicated spaces for bicycles, bulky luggage and pushchairs reflect a growing focus on multimodal travel and leisure trips, particularly for visitors who may be combining rail journeys with hiking, cycling or island-hopping itineraries.

Large windows, improved soundproofing and adaptive LED lighting are intended to create a more pleasant onboard environment for long journeys, addressing complaints that older Greek trains can feel dim, noisy or uncomfortable, especially in summer. The new fleet also incorporates advanced climate control systems, a key consideration in a country where peak tourist season coincides with high temperatures. Hellenic Train has emphasized that the trains will support strong onboard connectivity and power supply, enabling passengers to work or stream content during journeys, an increasingly important factor for both business and leisure travelers.

From an environmental perspective, the trains are designed for lower energy consumption, with modern regenerative braking systems and lightweight construction contributing to projected energy savings of up to 10 percent compared to older stock. Approximately 97 percent of the materials used are recyclable, according to manufacturer data, aligning the upgrade with Greece’s broader sustainability goals and the tourism sector’s push to reduce its carbon footprint. For visitors choosing between rail and domestic flights, a more modern and efficient electric service further strengthens the environmental case for traveling by train.

Digital Ticketing, Dynamic Offers and the New Rail Customer Experience

The hardware upgrades are being complemented by a digital transformation of the customer interface. In late 2024 Hellenic Train launched a new online commercial platform that allows passengers to manage their entire journey through the company’s website and mobile app, from purchasing and modifying tickets to requesting compensation for delays. The system issues digital tickets by default and unifies the experience across sales channels, reducing the need for travelers to visit physical ticket counters, which can be a barrier for foreign visitors unfamiliar with local procedures.

The operator has been gradually introducing promotional campaigns tied to digital bookings, such as e-voucher rewards for specific Athens–Thessaloniki trains on certain days, aimed at encouraging passengers to shift to early morning or off-peak departures. Tourism professionals say such tools will become increasingly important as the new fleet comes online, enabling more sophisticated yield management and targeted discounts for domestic holidaymakers and international tourists planning multi-city itineraries.

For travel agents and tour operators, the enhanced digital backbone opens the door to integrating rail segments more seamlessly into packaged trips that may currently rely heavily on coaches or domestic air connections. Combined with real-time monitoring data, it also supports better operational planning, helping hotels, cruise operators and destination management companies anticipate arrivals and manage guest transfers with greater precision.

Broadening Greece’s Tourism Map Beyond Airports and Ferries

Industry stakeholders argue that the most significant impact of Hellenic Train’s investment program may lie in how it reshapes tourist geography inside Greece. Faster, more frequent and more comfortable rail services between Athens, Thessaloniki and intermediate cities are expected to open up a wide range of destinations that have historically been underrepresented in international itineraries, despite their cultural, natural and gastronomic appeal. Cities such as Larissa, Katerini and Volos, along with nearby coastal stretches and mountain regions, stand to benefit from more predictable and attractive train connections.

Tourism analysts note that improved suburban and regional links in Attica and Central Macedonia will also make it easier for visitors to base themselves in major urban hubs while undertaking day trips to beaches, archaeological sites and wine regions reachable by rail. This model is already familiar to travelers in other parts of Europe, where rail-based excursions are a staple of city breaks. In Greece, planners hope that upgraded trains and infrastructure will help replicate that pattern, reducing pressure on overburdened hotspots and spreading visitor spending more evenly across the country.

Further south and west, the planned extension and modernization of rail links toward Patras and the Peloponnese carry additional tourism potential. Faster connections between Athens and Patras, which serves as a key gateway for ferry routes to Italy and the Ionian Islands, could make rail a more attractive feeder mode for international visitors arriving by sea. Enhanced rail access to Peloponnese destinations would support growth in heritage, nature and wine tourism in regions such as Achaia, Arcadia and Messinia, bringing new demand to smaller communities.

From Safety Crisis to Strategic Tourism Asset

The rail upgrade package comes at a politically charged moment for Greece’s transport sector, still marked by the memory of the Tempe crash of February 2023. The disaster triggered mass protests and a crisis of confidence in the railway’s safety, and it has shaped both the content and the communication of the current modernization drive. Government officials have repeatedly framed the investments in new trains, digital oversight and signaling as part of a broader commitment to building a safer, more reliable and more transparent network.

For the tourism industry, restoring confidence in rail is seen as critical not only for domestic travel but also for the country’s international image. Tour operators, hotel groups and regional tourism boards have been closely watching the implementation of safety-related infrastructure projects, from automatic braking systems to centralized traffic management and staff retraining programs. Their expectation is that as the new systems come into full operation and the modern fleet is deployed, rail will transition from being perceived as a vulnerability in Greece’s transport mix to a competitive strength.

That shift could have far-reaching implications. A robust intercity and regional rail network offers an alternative to private car use and charter coaches, helping to ease congestion on key highways and in popular resort areas during peak season. It also aligns with the expectations of younger and more environmentally conscious travelers, many of whom actively seek low-carbon options and multimodal itineraries when choosing destinations. If Hellenic Train and Greek authorities deliver on current timelines and commitments, trains could soon become a defining feature of how visitors move around the country, linking major gateways with a far broader constellation of inland and coastal experiences.