Elaboration of Feasibility study and Cost Benefit analysis, as well as the preparation rail project funding application to the E.U. for the railway connection Tithorea – Domokos.

The project is located on the Orient/East-Mediterranean (OEM) Corridor of the TEN-T core network and in particular on the Thessaloniki – Athens rail section, which is part of the axis Vidin – Sofia – Burgas/TR border Sofia – Thessaloniki – Athens/Piraeus, which is included in the list of CEF pre-Identified projects along the above corridor, and is depicted in Part Ι.2, Annex Ι of the CEF Regulation (1316/11-12-2013).

The proposed action contributes to the upgrade/modernization of the Athens–Thessaloniki/Promachonas axis, and in conjunction with the ongoing/planned investments in the Athens –Patras axis (which is also part of the ΟΕΜ Corridor), its objective is to turn the entire Patras-Athens-Thessaloniki-Promachonas axis into a high-speed rail axis of increased capacity, equipped with modern signaling, tele-commanding, telecommunication and electrification systems, in full compliance with TEN-T requirements set by the Regulation 1315/2013.

The global project is the construction of the project of the new double high speed railway line Tithorea-Lianokladi-Domokos, which started in late 1997 and will be completed for operation in 2017, with a total budget, including non-eligible expenses, of 1,668.71 mil. Euros. The aforementioned project is identical to the project under evaluation as part of the Cost-Benefit Analysis already carried out. This action is part of the global project.

The section Tithorea – Lianokladi – Domokos currently consists of a single railway line, with poor geometrical characteristics, without electrification or modern signalling. The existing line does not allow high speeds and significantly limits the capacity of the overall Athens-Thessaloniki axis. The new alignment of the global project has been designed for speeds of 160-200 kph and replaces the mountainous part of the existing single line, 122 km long, with the new Double High Speed Railway Line, 106 km long. The physical object of the global project includes 2 twin tunnels with a total length for single track branches of 30,837.00 m (Kallidromo and Othris Tunnels), 12 double track tunnels with a total length of 4,499.61m, 49 railway bridges with a total length of 6,086.,88 m, the construction of two new railway stations at Molos and Agios Stefanos, as well as two new stops at Aggies and Thavmakos. Once this project is implemented, the new electrified double railway line Athens-Thessaloniki, 500 km long, which complies with the interoperability specifications for the core network (Regulation 1315/2013), will be completed.

The analysis of existing conditions and trends and the estimates of potential future developments of socioeconomic parameters are conducted at the level of Regional Divisions (prefectures – NUTS III areas). Wider Areas of Influence (catchment areas) of the project are determined as aggregates of Regional Divisions.

Services Provided:

• Estimation of the existing and future transport demand with the use of a 4-step traffic model.
• Estimation of construction costs and operation and maintenance costs
• Estimation of anticipated revenues
• Financial evaluation
• Socio-economic evaluation
• Sensitivity and risk analysis
• CEF funding application