Greece: The five-car unit arrived at Sepolia depot in May and is now undergoing a programme of static and dynamic testing ahead of its planned entry into service on Line 1 in July. Three further trains are expected to be delivered by December.
The Series 8 trains were originally built between 1983 and 1985 by a consortium of German manufacturers MAN and Siemens. Only the carbody shell has been retained from the original vehicles. The refurbishment scope covers all on-board systems, including traction motors, braking systems, safety systems, air conditioning and door mechanisms. The interior has been brought in line with the standards of the modern rolling stock currently operating on Athens Metro Lines 2 and 3, featuring new seating, LED lighting, digital displays, CCTV and three wheelchair spaces. The carbodies have also been treated with anti-graffiti coating. The work is being carried out at CAF’s facility in the industrial zone of Volos, Greece.
Inside the train refurbished by CAF for the Athens Metro. Source: TANEA
The €70 mln contract for the mid-life refurbishment, extending the service life by 25 years, was awarded by Athens public transport authority STASY in the summer of 2022. The project is financed through European Union funds.
The original delivery schedule called for all 14 trains to be handed over by the end of 2025. The deadline has since been pushed back to May 2027. CAF has attributed the delays to rising component costs and supply chain disruption following the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, which not only caused the delays but also increased the cost of the works by 9.5%. STASY has imposed penalties totalling €3.8 mln on CAF for undue delays.
