Likewise, thank you
Sprinter150
I am in the early planning stages of next year's trip, and your information is very helpful.
Again, it's really no problem. I wish you the best of luck in having a pleasant trip in 2021 - hopefully it will be a bit simpler to plan for then than now!
Just for a bit more detail about the project, I have found this article from RGI (in depth, focuses on the whole of Greece rail infrastructure investment, but the first part is relevant to the Peloponnese).
https://www.railwaygazette.com/in-d...e-investment-back-on-the-agenda/57050.article
"After years of delays amid the country’s financial crisis, several major infrastructure projects are coming to fruition in Greece, while Chinese investment in the port of Piraeus could spur more investment in the near future.
Toma Bačić reports.
June 26 marked a further milestone in the long struggle to revive the Greek railway network, with the launch of diesel-hauled passenger trains over the 71 km between Kiato and Rododaphni on the route linking Athens with Patras in the northwest of the Peloponnese peninsula.
This can be seen as a cause for optimism, as despite some ambitious plans rail infrastructure investment in Greece had suffered along with the rest of the economy in the wake of the country’s financial crisis during the late 2000s.
The Peloponnese was once served by an extensive narrow gauge network, parts of which were operational as recently as 2010. The government has committed to maintaining the mothballed infrastructure, but it seems unlikely that many of the more rural metre gauge lines will be revived. However, the former metre gauge line from the capital to Patras is being rebuilt as a 1 435 mm gauge double-track electrified main line, with some sections suitable for 200 km/h operation.
The first phase of this project opened in two stages in 2005-07, when 105 route-km of essentially new line replaced the old narrow gauge route, running from a junction at SKA north of Athens to Korinthos and Kiato. The budget was €620m, which covered the excavation of five tunnels totalling 8·3km and four cut-and-cover sections adding a further 1·4 km. The line was electrified at a cost of €27·3m.
The newly finished Kiato – Rododaphni section has necessitated even more tunnelling, pushing the cost up to €920m. Six bores total 11 route-km, augmented by eight emergency access tunnels and 13 more sections of cut-and-cover.
Test running started on April 17, with Christos Spirtzis, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport & Networks, joining the first trip. Thales has supplied Altrac ETCS Level 1 train control equipment as well as power systems, hot axlebox detectors, and cabling under a contract awarded by infrastructure manager Ergose in 2014. Thales is also responsible for the installation and commissioning of telecoms systems. Although not yet completed, electrification is planned within a budget of €69m.
This leaves the reconstruction of the last 32 km to Patras outstanding, with the cost now estimated at a further €91m. Eight new stations are planned to serve the rebuilt corridor. Work on the final section is expected to begin next year."