Tychero railway station

Tychero railway station (Greek: Σιδηροδρομικός Σταθμός Τυχερό, romanized: Sidirodromikós stathmós Tychero) is a railway station that serves the town of Tychero, Evros in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Greece. Located 1.1 kilometres (0.68 mi) northeast of the town center, the station opened in 1872 by the Chemins de fer Orientaux, (now part of OSE). Today TrainOSE operates just 4 daily Regional trains[2] to Alexandroupoli and Ormenio. The station is unstaffed[3] however there are waiting rooms available, if open.

Τυχερό Tychero
Location	Tychero Evros Greece
Coordinates	40°53′28″N 26°11′05″E
Owned by	OSE
Line(s)	Regional Alexandroupoli–Svilengrad railway[1]
Platforms	3 (1 disused)
Tracks	3 (1 disused)
Train operators	TrainOSE
Construction
Structure type	at-grade
Platform levels	1
Parking	No
Bicycle facilities	No
Disabled access
Other information
Status	Unstaffed
Website	http://www.ose.gr/en/
History
Opened	1872
Electrified	No
Previous names	Bıdıklı, Tychio (pre-1953)
Services
Preceding station   TrainOSE   Following station Peplos toward Alexandroupoli Regional Filakto toward Ormenio
Location
Tychero Location within Greece

History

The station was opened in June 1872 when the line from Alexandroupoli (then Dedeagac) to Istanbul (then Constantinople) via Edirne was completed.[4] Tychero (Ottoman: Bıdıklı) was one of the stations on this line.[5] Until 1909 there was no connection between the lines Istanbul–Alexandroupoli and Thessaloniki–Alexandroupoli (opened in 1896) at Alexandroupoli; a connection existed between Feres and Potamos (near current Avas).[5] When the railway was built it was all within the Ottoman Empire. After World War I and the subsequent Greek-Turkish War from 1919 to 1922, and finally peace in the form of the Lausanne treaty, the Chemins de fer Orientaux (CO) ended up having a network straddling Turkey and Greece, Didymoteicho became part of Greece and the line administrated by Greece.

In 1920 the Line and station became part Hellenic State Railways. Through the 1950’s-70s the station would see between 300 to 350 tons of the famed[6] "Golden Head" Tychero melons leave the via rail.[7]

In late 1970 the Hellenic State Railways was reorganised.[8] On 31 December 1970 Hellenic State Railways ceased to existed, the following day all railways in Greece (with the exception of private industrial lines and E.I.S.) were transferred to Hellenic Railways Organisation S.A., a state-owned corporation, responsible for most for Greece’s rail infrastructure and passenger services.

In the 1990s, OSE introduced the InterCity service to the Alexandroupoli–Svilengrad line[9] Which reduced travel times across the whole line.

In 2009, with the Greek debt crisis unfolding OSE's Management was forced to reduce services across the network. Timetables where cutback and routs closed, as the government-run entity attempted to reduce overheads. Services from Orestiada to Alexandroupoli were cut back to three trains a day, reducing the reliability of services, and passenger numbers. On 13 February 2011, due to the Greek financial crisis and subsequent budget cuts by the Greek government, all international services were suspended. As a result, all cross border routs where closed and international services (to Istanbul, Sofia, etc.) ended.[10] Thus, only two routes now connect Didymoteicho with Thessaloniki and Athens (and those with a connection to Alex / Polis), while route time increased as the network was "upgraded".[11]

In 2009, with the Greek debt crisis unfolding OSE's Management was forced to reduce services across the network. Timetables were cutback and routes closed, as the government-run entity attempted to reduce overheads. Services from Feres to Alexandroupoli were cut back to three trains a day, reducing the reliability of services, and passenger numbers. With passenger footfall in sharp decline. On 11 February 2011, all cross border routes were closed and international services (to Istanbul, Sofia, etc.) were ended. Thus, only two routes now connect Feres with Thessaloniki and Athens (and those with a connection to Alex / Polis), while route time increased as the network was "upgraded".[12] Services to/from Ormenio were replaced by bus. In 2014 TrainOSE replaced services to/from Dikaia with buses[13] In September 2014 a rail replacement bus was implemented across the line, so priority could be given for the transportation of the seasons suger beets crop.[14]

In 2017 OSE’s passenger transport sector was privatised as TrainOSE, currently a wholly owned subsidiary of Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane[15] infrastructure, including stations remained under the control of OSE. In 2020 a 25 year old refugee was struck and killed by a train outside of Tychero railway station while following the tracks south.[16]

Facilities

The station buildings original 19th century buildings have recently been repaired and restored (with help from EU funding). however the waiting rooms are (as of 2020) closed, as is the booking office. As a result the station is currently little more than an unstaffed halt.

Services

As of 2020, the station is only served by two daily pairs of regional trains Alexandroupoli–Ormenio.[17] There is also a bus stop at the station.

References

1. "OSE - 2017 Network Statement Annexes".
2. https://tickets.trainose.gr/dromologia/
3. https://www.evros-news.gr/2017/05/12/πύθιο-παρατημένος-καταστρέφεται-ο-πρ/
4. Δημήτριος Κίτσος, Ζαφειρία Κοσκίου και Φωτεινή Κυριακοπούλου (ed.). "Αλεξανδρούπολη: Εν αρχή ην … ο σιδηρόδρομος" (PDF). Πρόγραμμα Τοπικής Ιστορίας. 3ο Γυμνάσιο Αλεξ/πολης «Δόμνα Βισβίζη». pp. 34–35. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
5. Πέτρος Γ. Αλεπάκος. "Η γραμμή του Οθωμανικού Ενωτικού Σιδηροδρόμου Θεσσαλονίκης – Κωνσταντινούπολης (JSC) στο Δεδέαγατς". Πολίτης της Θράκης. 234 (Σεπτέμβριος 2010). Αναδημ. στο alepakos.blogspot.gr. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
6. https://www.ert.gr/perifereiakoi-stathmoi/orestiada/alexandroupoli-apo-tychero-stin-athina-25-toni-peponiou-chrysi-kefali/
7. https://www.ert.gr/perifereiakoi-stathmoi/orestiada/alexandroupoli-apo-tychero-stin-athina-25-toni-peponiou-chrysi-kefali/
8. Law 674/1971, Government Gazette A-192/1970
9. https://www.radioevros.gr/epeidi-ta-traina-einai-gemata-anthrwpous-kai-istories-kai-oxi-mono-eisitiria-kai-arithmous/
10. "Important Greece Train Update". InterRail News. InterRailNet.com. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
11. https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=el&u=https://m.naftemporiki.gr/story/807704&prev=search
12. https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=el&u=https://m.naftemporiki.gr/story/807704&prev=search
13. https://www.typosthes.gr/thessaloniki/41820_kykloforiakes-rythmiseis-sto-tmima-alexandroypoli-dikaia-apo-tin-trainose
14. http://www.trainose.gr/deltia/δελτιο-τύπου-κυκλοφοριακές-στο-τμήμα/
15. "It's a new day for TRAINOSE as FS acquires the entirety of the company's shares". ypodomes.com. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
16. https://www.ethnos.gr/ellada/109157_ebros-metanastis-parasyrthike-apo-treno
17. "Search schedule Alexandroupoli Port - Ferres". TrainOSE. Retrieved 25 June 2020.