Thessalian railway reactivated!

Standard-gauge half to Kalambaka inaugurated 27-10-2001, railfan initiative keeps also the eastern metre-gauge half alive!

Thessalian metre gauge had closed down on June, 29th 1998. The first hit by the government's anti-rail policy was the 160km (100 miles) long Volos - Kalambaka metre gauge line. It was completed in 1886 as a main part of the Thessalian network, connecting all important cities in Thessaly with Meteora, the region's most famous landmark. This network was until recently the backbone of the rich Thessalian Plains, but during its last 2 decades it was deliberately downgraded and left to starve little-by-little.
The excuse for closure was regauging of the western Kalambaka - Palaeopharsalus (Demerli) Section, which was lifted in record time. However, the standard gauge in operation since 27-01-2001, runs mostly adjacent to the operating metre gauge, and closure would only have been necessary for few nights. Moreover, the existing line could assist in building the new one and dismantling the old one. At any case, the new line should be built in mixed gauge,  as conversion of the eastern half to Volos may be delayed for decades.
Obsolete rolling stock dumped on the western part is concentrated on the eastern one to make room for track dismantling. Most of the operational rolling stock was transferred to the Peloponnese, while a vintage railcar with some cars remain in Thessaly for eventual special workings over the mothballed Eastern section.
Active preservationists of the Railway Enthusiasts' Association took over this section and run occasional excursion and maintenance trains with speeders, a Linke-Hofmann vintage railcar and a 4-wheel industrial diesel loco (Nippon 1971, ex- Public Electricity Board).

The last entirely metre-gauge timetable (Winter 1997-98)

Downwards                                                                                                        Upwards
1881 1843 1883 1885 1845 1887 1847 1889 1840 2881 STATIONS 1844 1880 1882 1846 1884 1848 1886 1850 1888 2880
5.11 11.02 14.32 18.08 0km Volo 8.52 13.57 17.27 21.44
5.36 11.27 14.57 18.33 20 Velestino 8.29 13.34 17.04 21.21
4.37 7.02 9.58 10.55 13.08 14.56 16.24 19.11 20.01 22.30 80 Demerli 7.05 8.57 10.33 12.09 14.19 15.39 18.21 19.57 21.36 0.53
6.18 8.43 11.44 12.36 14.50 16.37 18.05 20.53 21.42 0.11 161Kalambaka 5.19 7.16 8.52 10.19 12.38 13.51 16.40 18.08 19.54 23.12
This project relies entirely on volunteer labour! Volunteering railfans wanted for all jobs!
Preservation of rolling stock and fixed equipment becomes a priority!
You may e-mail the author for further details on stock disposal 1