Some context here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thessaloniki_Metro

This seems to have flown under the radar a bit but it’s a similar case to the metro project in Ho Chi Minh. It took an eternity to finish with the first hole being dug in 1989 and it finally opened to the public last month. It had become kind of a meme due to all the delays and changing of hands among now-bankrupt companies and with every government promising to open it (it’s had at least two opening ceremonies years apart). Now a month later it’s still having issues and is really small, mostly serving the center but it’s the first driverless metro in Greece with modern stations and also featuring a museum so it’s promising.

  • MicrowavedTea@infosec.pubOP
    61·
    11 days ago

    I tried to keep a positive note, after all it is progress even if the whole project wasn’t exactly a success. I didn’t know about the unfinished tests, that’s pretty concerning given our track record with trains. You actually still can’t pay with a card or buy reduced tickets but at least the machines give change now. The short line is not so much a problem as long as each extension doesn’t take another decade. Pretty much spot on on everything else and I’d like to add two more small issues.

    • Thessaloniki is terrible with parking and there was zero regard for parking spaces around the stations, adding extra load to these areas
    • I don’t know if this will be better maintained but the Athens metro has way too many elevators and escalators constantly out of order. The stations here rely too much on escalators and it will be a pain going two levels down when half of them are not working. There’s also no phone coverage but maybe that’s fixable.

    Stopping here before this turns into a rant :p

    PS thanks for the link, somehow I hadn’t come across that community.

    • Blastboom Strice
      7·
      11 days ago

      after all it is progress even if the whole project wasn’t exactly a success

      Yeah, it certainly is progress and probably has reduced both traffic and commute times:)

      Stopping here before this turns into a rant

      Yeah, I see what you mean. I tried to point the issues quickly and in a civilized manner.😆 I feel like they should be pointed, because those in power tend to write history with their narrative and outsiders may not even know half the story.

      PS thanks for the link, somehow I hadn’t come across that community.

      You’re welcome:) Your name didn’t ring any bell and I guessed you might weren’t aware of the community (plus you’re not in the mainstream instances which makes it likelier that you don’t federate with the community)😄