Greece’s second-largest city, Thessaloniki, has officially opened its first metro line after more than 30 years of construction.
The 9.6-kilometer line includes 13 stations and features driverless trains. The opening ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Construction of the metro in Thessaloniki began in 1986, with the official project launch in 2003. However, numerous archaeological finds during the work led to delays and additional costs. In 2015, it was decided to preserve the discovered artifacts and display them at the stations.
The most significant archaeological finds, including a Roman street and Byzantine artifacts, are now available for public viewing at the central station. The total cost of the project was around three billion euros, with the completion of the second line expected in 2025.
The metro in Thessaloniki has become a symbol of the struggle against bureaucracy and long delays, caused by both archaeological discoveries and financial issues.
