Trikala railway station

Trikala railway station (Greek: Σιδηροδρομικός σταθμός Τρικάλων) is a railway station in Trikala, Thessaly, Greece. The station is served by regional trains between Palaiofarsalos and Kalambaka.

Τρίκαλα Trikala
The old station building and the current platforms, March 2009
Location	Trikala 421 00[1] Trikala Greece
Coordinates	39°32′43″N 21°45′50″E
Owned by	OSE
Line(s)	Palaiofarsalos–Kalambaka railway[2]
Platforms	3
Tracks	3
Train operators	TrainOSE
Construction
Structure type	at-grade
Platform levels	1
Disabled access
Other information
Website	http://www.ose.gr/en/
History
Opened	16 June 1886
Services
Preceding station   TrainOSE   Following station Magoula Karditsa toward Palaiofarsalos Regional Kalambaka Terminus Magoula Karditsa toward Larissa TrainOSE Kalambaka Terminus Magoula Karditsa toward Thessaloniki TrainOSE Kalambaka Terminus Magoula Karditsa toward Athens Express Kalambaka Terminus
Location
Trikala Location within Greece

History

The station was opened on 16 June 1886, by the Thessalian Railways Company. Trikala was one of main line stations (as shown by the impressive original station building) along with Farsala and Kalambaka.

Freight traffic declined sharply when the state-imposed monopoly of OSE for the transport of agricultural products and fertilisers ended in the early 1990s. Many small stations of the network with little passenger traffic were closed down, especially on the mainline section and between Karditsa and Kalampaka. In 2001 the section between Kalampaka and Palaiofarsalos was converted from 600 mm gauge to standard gauge and physically connected at Palaiofarsalos with the mainline from Athens to Thessaloniki.[3] Since to upgrade, however, travel times improved and the unification of rail gauge allowed direct services, even InterCity services, to link Volos and Kalambaka with Athens and Thessaloniki.

Today the small Trikala Museum Showroom, located in a square opposite the Station showcases a small steam engine and two auxiliary wagons of the old Thessaly Network.[4]

Facilities

The station has a footbridge from platform 1 to platform 2, via stairs or lift.

Services

Today, the station is served by direct lines to the rest of Greece, via Palaiofarsalos, served both by intercity trains to Athens, Palaiofarsalos Larissa and Thessaloniki and Proastiakos to Athens.[5] Previously Thessaly Railways operated a narrow gauge service to Volos.[6]

In August 2009 TrainOSE S.A. proceeded to a drastic cutback of passenger services on Thessaly lines.[7] As of Spring 2020 There are ten (five in each direction) Regional services on Palaiofarsalos-Kalambaka Line. In addition, there is one Regional train to Athens from Kalambaka and back (884/885).

References

1. https://www.xo.gr/profile/profile-911423713/el/
2. "OSE - 2017 Network Statement Annexes".
3. https://www.ergose.gr/project/anavathmisi_grammis_palaiofarsalos_kalambaka/?lang=en
4. http://www.ose.gr/en/culture/museum-stands/165-museum-showroom-in-trikala
5. https://tickets.trainose.gr/dromologia/?lang=en#view=search;apo=%CE%9A%CE%91%CE%A1%CE%94;pros=%CE%A4%CE%A1%CE%99%CE%9A;date=2018-11-23;trip_type=single;return_date=undefined-undefined-
6. "The Pelion Train, a mythical route". TrainOSE. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
7. TrainOSE S.A. "Timetables 1 August 2009", Tables 4A/B, 5A/B